COL BKB: Michigan St. 59, Illinois 51

CHAMPAIGN, Ill., March 6 (UPI) -- Drew Neitzel scored 17 points Thursday and No. 18 Michigan State fought off Illinois 59-51.

Drew Naymick added 12 points and Goran Suton had 10 for the Spartans (24-6, 12-5 Big Ten), winners of two straight and four out of five.

Illinois lost for the fourth time in five outings. The Fighting Illini (12-18, 4-13) got 13 points from Shaun Pruitt.

Michigan State saw its lead cut to six with two minutes remaining and Illinois had two chances to get closer, only to have three-point attempts miss the target.

Suton grabbed the rebound after the second long-range miss and hit two foul shots to put the game away.