Champaign, Ill. - The Fighting Illini didn't need the Orange Krush, their student section, to beat the Spartans on Tuesday night.
Illinois dominated MSU for almost the entire game, en route to a 70-40 shellacking.
Illinois guard Dee Brown paced his team. He dumped in a game-high 24 points, while adding five assists. Illinois forward Brian Cook, the Big Ten's leading scorer (20.9 points per game), was a nonfactor with four points, however, the Illini didn't need him.
Illinois (17-5 overall, 7-4 Big Ten) went on an 18-0 run early in the first half. The Illini also put together a 21-0 run during the middle part of the second half.
Following MSU's 8-2 lead, Illinois built on its 18-0 run - turning it into a 35-9 run to end the half and take a 37-17 lead at the break.
Sophomore guard Chris Hill led the Spartans (14-10, 6-6) with 12 points. Freshman center Paul Davis and freshman forward Erazem Lorbek chipped in seven apiece.
It was MSU's worst loss under the regime of head coach Tom Izzo since a 36-point set back to Iowa on Feb. 21, 1996. The 40 points also was the Spartans lowest point total with Izzo as coach since Feb. 27, 1996, when MSU scored 46 points in a 75-46 loss to Michigan.
