Here comes Michigan State Spartans ready for Michigan after Illinois blowout By Jacob Wheeler Daily Sports Editor EAST LANSING - Look out Big Ten, look out world. Mateen Cleaves and the Spartans are racing at full speed. After sneaking through a less-than-stellar non-conference performance, No. 8 Michigan State (6-1 Big Ten, 15-5 overall) remained atop the conference standings with Ohio State, with an 87-53 victory over Illinois yesterday. The contest was never close, as the rejuvenated Spartans jumped out to a 10-point lead less than seven minutes into the first half. Michigan State led by 19 at the half, and opened the second on an 18-1 run that sealed the victory. "That first half was as good as we've played in a long time," Spartan coach Tom Izzo said. "This is the first time I've seen Mateen's skills completely re-emerge this season, the way he's seeing the court and passing the ball around." Cleaves, the senior point guard and unquestionable team leader, missed the season's first 13 games due to a stress fracture in his right foot. Meanwhile the Spartans limped along without him, as inexperienced swingman David Thomas filled in. The team, which reached the Final Four last season and the Sweet Sixteen two years ago, lost its No. 2 pre-season ranking and briefly fell out of the top ten as Cleaves slowly returned to tip-top form. He looked like the best point guard in the country yesterday. Cleaves played 30 minutes - more than any other Spartan - dishing out 12 assists and picking off four steals while forcing countless turnovers. The All-American also scored 13 points, though that's not his main job. Michigan State's primary finishers, Morris Peterson, Andre Hutson and Charlie Bell, scored 52 of the team's 91 points. Peterson hit five-of-seven 3-pointers and Bell connected on three-of-four long range bombs. "I couldn't say that my defense is completely back," said Cleaves, who has gradually improved his play since returning. "But I feel better. "I think this is the best game we've played since I've been back. Credit that to team defense." Michigan State's backcourt held Illinois sharpshooter Corey Bradford, who has carried the team on his shoulders at times this season, to a mortal 13 points. He converted only one-of-five 3-point attempts. "We limited Bradford's shots because we have a good defender in Charlie Bell," Izzo said, in praise of his shooting guard. "We did a good job of trailing him off the ball and stepping up." Feared most for their rebounding prowess in the past three years, the Spartans grabbed 41 boards yesterday, compared to 16 for Illinois. In fact, Michigan State grabbed 17 rebounds on the offensive end alone. Those second chances fueled the 25-point blowout. The Spartans scored 25 points after offensive rebounds, compared to only eight for the Illini. Credit forward Andre Hutson for much of the disparage. Hutson pulled down 11 boards - five of them offensive - and scored 14 points, as the Michigan State guards found little adversity lobbing passes into the low post toward him. "Mentally, more than physically, it was important for Hutson to get the brace off," said Izzo, referring to nagging injuries which his big man has faced. "I told him 'you're going to have to play banged up.'" Yesterday's victory was lopsided, but it could have been worse for Illinois. The Spartans actually led by 36 points with 11 minutes remaining in the game, before Izzo inserted his bench players. Yet he was quick to note that the lopsided victory didn't guarantee anything tomorrow - when Michigan State faces archrival Michigan in Ann Arbor. "You (reporters) talk about (the past three years) being a dynasty for Michigan State," Izzo said. "But this was only one good game. "It was one of those days for Illinois. I wouldn't read into it too much." AP PHOTO Michigan State guard Charlie Bell scored 20 points as Illinois' marquee player Corey Bradford helplessly looks on. The Spartans held Bradford to 13 points. Originally on page 5B in the 1-31-2000 issue of the Daily.