Illini win Big Ten opener, improve to 15-0

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Dee Brown scored a career-high 34 points and No. 6 Illinois held No. 7 Michigan State nearly 33 points below its average to win their Big Ten-opening showdown 60-50 on Thursday night.

The Illini (15-0) extended their home winning streak to 30 games, matching No. 8 Gonzaga for the longest current run in the country.

Maurice Ager, the Big Ten's leading scorer at 20 points per game, was held to nine on 3-of-8 shooting as the Spartans (12-3) had their 11-game winning streak snapped.

Shannon Brown had 17 points for Michigan State, which was held to its lowest point total since falling 71-51 to Illinois at the Assembly Hall on Feb. 10, 2004.

Dee Brown scored 23 points in the first half and was 7-of-13 from behind the 3-point line including a 30-foot bailout as the shot clock wound down and a buzzer beater at halftime. The Illini were 10-of-21 from behind the arc overall.

-- AP