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.
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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.