Champaign, Ill. — Michigan State headed to Illinois Wednesday night convinced its recent success would carry over to the road, a place it had struggled all season to play well.
By the time the Spartans left the State Farm Center, they were lamenting many of the same issues, They find themselves still flirting with the NCAA Tournament bubble with a game at Maryland looming on Saturday as the regular-season finale.
The turnovers piled up early and the execution was lacking in long stretches as a furious second-half rally came up short against Illinois on its senior night.