“We needed it,” junior forward Delvon Roe said. “We came out here making all the intangible plays, diving to the floor, getting blocked shots, hustle plays and that ‘s when you know your team’s ready to play; when you’re making those type of plays.”

A day that started early with roars during ESPN’s College GameDay ended late with chants of “Kalin Lucas,” for the senior guard who led all scorers with 25 points.

For the sixth time in seven games, Lucas played at least 36 minutes.

With Roe still hurting from a knee injury and junior forward Draymond Green sick with a stomach virus, it was Lucas who had to carry the Spartans.

“I told him he’s got to be an iron man. We can’t take him out, and I didn’t. He, too, was walking on his knees by the end.”

Lucas scored at least 20 points for the fifth time in seven games and scored six points in the final 12-8 run that won the game for MSU.

“He’s playing at a high level,” Illinois head coach Bruce Weber said. “We told the players he’s kind of back to where he was and he’s carrying the team right now and giving them a chance.”

Sophomore center Derrick Nix said Lucas was back to his form from his sophomore year, when he won Big Ten Player of the Year.

Speaking of awards, Izzo said his point guard has been playing as good as anyone in the country since recovering from his torn Achilles’ that dates back to last season’s NCAA Tournament.

“I feel like, every week, it gets better and better. I’m still doing a little bit of my rehab, still trying to get it as strong as possible, so it is starting to feel a lot better.”

Lucas fell to the floor with seconds remaining grabbing his right leg, but said after the game his right calf had cramped up.

Lucas also said he doesn’t remember ever cramping up before.

“He was tired tonight,” Izzo said. “I’ve never seen him that tired. Not since I’ve been with him. I think part of it was the way (Illinois) dogged him.”

Illinois’ pressure defense held the Spartans to 42 percent shooting overall, including just 30.8 percent in the first half. However, as has been the case the last three games, MSU defense won the night.

MSU held Illinois (17-10, 7-7) to 37.3 percent from the floor for the game and outrebounded the Illini, 38-30.

“That’s what made us successful our first two years here. Defense. It wasn’t scoring,” Roe said. We found ways to score. People never liked our offense and what we did on the offensive end but we always found a way to win the game and another example would be today. We didn’t have a great offensive game but we found ways to win.”

The Illini were led by 15 points from guard Demetri McCamey and five rebounds from forward Mike Davis. Roe led the Spartans with nine rebounds.

Before the late run, MSU had only led by more than one possession twice during the game and Illinois’ biggest lead was three points, but in the end, the Spartans made the clutch plays that have resulted in so many late-season runs.

“All in all, a gritty, gutty win from a team that has two players that are sick and hurt like nobody’s tomorrow,” Izzo said. “I’m really proud of my team tonight.”