An unruly Izzone student section and several late runs by MSU weren't enough to stop No. 1 Illinois and its talented trio of guards.
Fighting Illini guards Luther Head, Deron Williams and Dee Brown combined for 54 points, each finding ways to dash any hopes of an MSU comeback. Illinois won 81-68 and handed MSU its first defeat at Breslin Center this season.
"We took a lot of things away, but they still found ways to make shots," MSU senior guard Chris Hill said.
In front of a fiery Breslin Center crowd and a national ESPN audience, Illinois shot 56.9 percent, and MSU struggled at 42.9 percent.
MSU had its chances, closing the gap to seven points with more than two minutes remaining in the game, but senior guard Alan Anderson missed a layup that Illinios turned into a drive by Dee Brown which he converted and was fouled on.
Dee Brown's free throw sealed the game, as Illinois scored the next six points.
"It's just a very good basketball team, and yet I think we had our chances," MSU head coach Tom Izzo said. "We had some open shots; we just didn't make them."
Down 41-33 at halftime, MSU's hopes were still alive, coming within three points after Anderson scored seven straight points, but Illinois turned it into a 12-2 run.
The run was led by Illinois forward James Augustine, who finished with 11 points.
"We didn't play well, and we were still in the game," said Anderson, who led MSU in scoring with 14 points.
Anderson joined five Spartans in double-digit scoring as sophomore guard Shannon Brown and junior center Paul Davis each added 12 points. Junior guard Maurice Ager and senior guard Kelvin Torbert scored 10 each.
But in the end, it was Illinois' guards - touted as the best in the country - who kept making big shots.
"We came out and played great basketball," Dee Brown said. "It's tough, but I think we have maturity and leadership."
The win puts Illinois (22-0 overall, 8-0) firmly in control of the Big Ten conference after what most analysts said would be the Illini's toughest regular season challenge.
"Right now, we want to get a Big Ten ring, and that's our next motivation," Illinois head coach Bruce Weber said.
After nine straight weeks ranked at No. 1, Illinois already broke No. 19 Wisconsin's 38 home-game winning streak, another feat MSU couldn't accomplish.
The loss takes MSU (14-4, 5-2) out of the Big Ten driver's seat, and the Spartans will have to hope other Big Ten teams can beat the Illini.
"By far, the better team won," Izzo said. "They have the ingredients to win a national championship."
