Draymond Green Injury: Michigan State Star Injures Knee

For a team that has done so much winning of late, the Michigan State Spartans lost quite a bit on Tuesday night at Assembly Hall in Champaign, including Draymond Green to a knee injury with 3:54 remaining in regulation of their 42-41 loss to the Illinois Fighting Illini (via Big Ten Network).

Green, who was helped off the court and later hobbled on one leg through the postgame handshake line, sent an optimistic tweet following the game.

I serve The Awesome God knee will be fine Michigan in Sunday...

— Draymond Green (@Money23Green) February 1, 2012

Green left the game and did not return, and the Spartans scored just three points in the final four minutes. Green had scored just 5 points on 1-of-6 shooting along with eight rebounds and five turnovers in 16 minutes before leaving the game. Coach Tom Izzo said Green played after being "sicker than a dog" with the flu.

For more on the Michigan State Spartans, go to The Only Colors. You can also head over to SB Nation's main NCAA Basketball hub at SBNation.com/NCAA-Basketball.

Michigan State Vs Illinois Final Score: Spartans Fall 42-41 In Offensive Struggle

The Michigan State Spartans (17-5, 6-3 Big Ten) were held to a season-low in points on Tuesday night in a 42-41 loss to the Illinois Fighting Illini (16-6, 5-4 Big Ten) at Assembly Hall in Champaign.

More importantly, they lost a chance to take a share of the Big Ten lead.

Branden Dawson (12 points) was the only Spartan to score more than 7 points, Michigan State scored just three points in the final four minutes, and Derrick Nix made just 1-2 free throws with 14 seconds in regulation in an epic offensive struggle.

Rather than keep pace with the Ohio State Buckeyes in the Big Ten, the Spartans fell into a three-way tie for second place along with the Wisconsin Badgers and Michigan Wolverines.

Combining for 83 points, this marked the lowest-scoring game of the season for both teams.

The Spartans now get a few days off before a major showdown with in-state rival and No. 22 Wolverines (16-6, 6-3 Big Ten) on Sunday. That game, which will be televised on CBS, is scheduled to kick off at 1:00 p.m. eastern in East Lansing at Jack Breslin Student Events Center.

For more on the Michigan State Spartans, go to The Only Colors. You can also head over to SB Nation's main NCAA Basketball hub at SBNation.com/NCAA-Basketball.

Michigan State Vs. Illinois: Spartans Go For Third Straight, Try To Keep Pace In Big Ten

Michigan State travels to Champaign trying to stay in the thick of the Big Ten title race.