Keith Appling scored a game-high 24
points, grabbed eight rebounds and dished out seven assists, as 13th-ranked
Michigan State utilized a big second half to take down Illinois, 80-75 in a
Big Ten Conference showdown Thursday at Breslin Center.
Gary Harris and Denzel Valentine each netted 14 points for the Spartans (18-4,
7-2 Big Ten), who trailed by 10 points at halftime, but outscored the Illini
53-38 in the second half en route to bouncing back from a loss Sunday at
Indiana.
Tracy Abrams scored 16 points and dished out six helpers and D.J. Richardson
added 14 points for the Fighting Illini (15-7, 2-6), who have lost five of
six.
