Sunday, January 18, 2009

Kevin Pittsnogle. Pivotal Big Ten encounter pits Illini against Spartans Hear.

Illinois owns a 53-51 series go first over Michigan State, and the teams will intersect again in Champaign later this season. Demetri McCamey leads Illinois in scoring by the narrowest of margins, as he is posting 12.3 ppg to go with his 4.8 apg. Trent Meachem checks in with 12.2 ppg, and he is a 47.6 percent shooter from three-point range. Mike Tisdale provides 11.9 ppg, and Mike Davis rounds out a foursome of double-digit scorers with 11.4 ppg.



Davis is also the club's finest rebounder with 7.5 rpg. The Illini have played tremendous span defense thus far, as they are limiting opponents to 56.6 ppg on 39.6 percent shooting from the floor.






In the 15-point ascendancy over Michigan on Wednesday, Tisdale was exceptionally formidable from his center position, as he hit 10-of-12 shots en way to 24 points. McCamey added 17 points for Illinois, which small the Wolverines to 32.2 percent discipline object efficiency. Michigan State is scoring 77.6 ppg this ripen while limiting opponents to 66.6 ppg on 41.5 percent shooting from the field.



The Spartans have been tremendous on the boards, outrebounding foes by more than 10 caroms per contest. Raymar Morgan is netting 15.2 ppg to go with 6.9 rpg, and Kalin Lucas provides 13.9 ppg in combining to his 89 assists.



Lucas has only committed 19 turnovers all age and is the spot on worst shared for Tom Izzo's team. Chris Allen rounds out a triple of double-digit scorers with 10.1 ppg for the Spartans, who outrebounded Penn State on Wednesday by a 41-24 margin, including 17-7 on the drive glass. Lucas finished with 15 points in that tilt, while Goran Suton added 13 points and 14 rebounds.



Durrell Summers planned in 10 points off the bench.

kevin pittsnogle



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