Illinois turns back Michigan State 71-62
CHAMPAIGN — Remember all the preseason talk about how Illinois would be deep enough and athletic enough to match the Big Ten's best?
The Illini's performance finally aligned with projections Tuesday night against No. 17 Michigan State.
With Brandon Paul and Jereme Richmond coming off the bench to deliver their finest showings, No. 23 Illinois held steady down the stretch for a 71-62 Big Ten victory before an announced sellout at Assembly Hall.
The Illini snapped a two-game losing streak — and discovered their finest form — just in time for Saturday's visit from top-ranked Ohio State.
“Those guys can do some things that our other guys can't do,” Illinois coach Bruce Weber said. “Like put the ball on the floor. Jereme can go inside-out. And Brandon, when he has rhythm 3s, I'm fine with them.”
Mixing transition layups with 3-point rainbows from the wing, Paul posted 17 of his game- and season-high 20 points in the first half to stake the Illini to a lead.
Richmond, who missed two practices and Saturday's loss to Wisconsin, got in the flow early with two dunks and went on to provide a career-high 14 points with 5 rebounds and 3 assists.
“I felt great,” said Richmond, who engulfed assistant Jerrance Howard in a long hug at the final buzzer. “I always dreamed about playing a team, like, first it was (North) Carolina and we got a big win and now Michigan State and get another big win.
“For me to help my team to win with rebounds and some key buckets off their assists, it was just a great feeling all around.”
The state of Illinois' last two Mr. Basketball winners spent lots of time on the court with Demetri McCamey (15 points, 11 assists), Mike Davis (11 points, 11 rebounds) and D.J. Richardson as the Illini matched the Spartans' small lineups.
“When (Jereme) and Brandon are playing well off the bench, that's such a big lift,” Davis said. “That carries some other guys that are maybe struggling. When Jereme comes in the game, he complements me and Tisdale so well. He looks to pass first, then drives the ball and kicks it.
“Same with Demetri. Same with Brandon. You know, Brandon did a good job. He got hot there … when guys are making shots and playing well, you saw what happened tonight. This team is tough to beat.”
Just how tough will be determined Saturday afternoon when unbeaten Ohio State arrives. The Buckeyes are Illinois' first top-ranked opponent since Wake Forest in 2004 — and they rotate four perimeter players around freshman Jared Sullinger.
That means the Illini's small lineup might see extensive time again.
“We lose a little bit on defense as far as rebounding and beef inside,” McCamey said. “But on the offensive end, it's scary because you've got me, Brandon and D.J. out there. Three good guards that can shoot the ball.
“And you have Mike Davis and Jereme out there that can hit the midrange and get to the basket and score layups or dunks. So it's going to be real tough. You've got five guys that can score.”
Nonetheless, the Illini (14-5, 4-2) struggled mightily to get baskets down the stretch. Davis' alley-oop dunk off a McCamey pass gave Illinois a 59-50 lead with 11:01 to go.
From that point forward, Mike Tisdale's 17-footer with 4:28 was the team's only hoop as the Illini relied on 10-of-14 shooting at the line.