INDIANAPOLIS, March 11 (UPI) -- Maurice Ager and Paul Davis each scored 16 points Friday night to help Michigan State upset 9th-ranked Illinois, 61-56.
The victory was in the quarterfinals of the Big Ten Tournament at Indianapolis.
Davis also had eight rebounds; Shannon Brown totaled 14 points, three rebounds, two assists and two steals; and Drew Neitzel had seven points, five assists and four rebounds for the Spartans (22-10), who will battle second- seeded Iowa in Saturday's semifinals. The Spartans had dropped both regular season meetings.
James Augustine had 16 points, 15 rebounds, a steal and a blocked shot; Rich McBride scored 13 points; and Brian Randle had 12 points, three rebounds and two assists for the third-seeded Fighting Illini (25-6), who had a late rally come up short.
MSU won the battle of the boards, 30-28.
