When playing the No. 17-ranked team in the nation, a fast start is advisable. So is a strong finish.
Illinois got only the first half right Thursday night, blowing a 10-point first-half lead in a 59-51 loss to Michigan State at Assembly Hall.
“It was like most of the season,” Illinois coach Bruce Weber said. “When you don’t shoot the ball well and don’t shoot free throws well, it takes a toll on you. We had eight turnovers in the second half, and when you don’t get shots, it puts you in a bind.”
After taking a 23-13 lead with 9:25 left in the first half, the Illini scored only 28 points in the game’s final 30:35, underscoring the offensive woes that have plagued them all season. After making nine of their first 12 shots, they made only 11 of their last 33. And they made only 9 of 19 free throws.
Center Shaun Pruitt appeared headed toward a big night with 11 first-half points but got only one shot in the second half and finished with 13.
“Their defense was the same,” Pruitt said. “We just turned the ball over too much.”
With the loss, Illinois (12-18, 4-13 Big Ten) is locked into the No. 10 seed for next week’s conference tournament.
It was Illinois’ ninth straight loss to a Top 25 team. The Illini, who tied the school record for losses in a season, haven’t beaten one since stopping No. 23 Indiana on Jan. 23, 2007.
Drew Neitzel led the Spartans (24-6, 12-5) with 17 points. Michigan State already was assured of the No. 4 seed in the Big Ten tournament, but every victory helps its case for a better NCAA seeding.
Michigan State coach Tom Izzo said starters Raymar Morgan, Kalin Lucas and reserve Durrell Summers all were ill at some point.
Spartans center Drew Naymick (12 points) hit two outside jumpers to start the second half, giving Michigan State a lead it would never relinquish at 35-31.
“I told him he had to shoot, they were ignoring him,” Michigan State coach Tom Izzo said.
The only bit of good news for Illinois was the return of senior forward Brian Randle, who had missed three games with a separated shoulder. He had not been expected back until Saturday’s regular-season finale at home against Minnesota but came off the bench to contribute seven points in 10 minutes.
“They taped me up and said go from there,” Randle said. “It’s getting better every day. I was trying to come off the bench and give us a spark.”
Layup
The Illini are recruiting 6-7 forward Dominique Keller, who averaged 25.5 points and 9.1 rebounds for Lee College, a junior college in Baytown, Texas, this season. Weber was in Texas to see him play this week and Keller visited Illinois for Thursday night’s game. With a scholarship available because of Brian Carlwell’s decision to transfer, Weber is looking for some frontcourt toughness and rebounding. The Illini are also losing their top two rebounders, seniors Pruitt (7.1) and Randle (5.5). Their leading returning rebounders are guard Chester Frazier (5.1) and swingman Calvin Brock (3.9).
———-
tabannon@tribune.com
