EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) - Maverick Morgan had 15 points and Malcolm Hill scored 10 for Illinois.
But it wasn't enough - down their leading scorer and in a hostile environment - in a 79-54 loss at No. 5 Michigan State on Thursday night.
The Illini (8-8, 0-3) didn't have leading-scorer Kendrick Nunn, who the team said stayed in Illinois for the birth of his child.
The Spartans (15-1, 2-1 Big Ten) were without Denzel Valentine for a fourth straight game. Valentine participated in pregame warmups and might play at Penn State on Sunday, nearly three weeks after having surgery on his left knee.
Eron Harris scored 13 and Matt McQuaid had a career-high 10 points for the Spartans.
