Champaign, IL – It wasn't pretty, but Brandon Paul scored a high 18 points, including the go-ahead free throws with 45.5 seconds left 41, at Assembly Hall.
Paul also had nine rebounds and five assists for Illinois (16-6, 5-4 Big Ten), which shot just 32.6 percent from the floor and went 3-for-17 from three-point range as the Fighting Illini snapped a three-game losing streak.
Branden Dawson was the only other member of the game to score in double digits with 12 points for the Spartans (17-5, 6-3), who struggled to 24.1 percent shooting in their third loss in five games.
