CHAMPAIGN — As Tracy Abrams stepped to the postgame podium late Tuesday, all anyone wanted to talk about was the shot.

You know, his three-pointer that helped Illinois to a 42-41 upset of No. 9 Michigan State at the Assembly Hall.

"That moment is what I dreamed about," Abrams said afterward.

Hold on, though. The three-pointer wasn't the play that defined the Illini's win in front of 15,629 fans and an ESPN audience. There was another one that went overlooked.

Abrams and Spartans beast Branden Dawson got locked up on the floor in a fight for a loose ball. After the whistle blew, Abrams, a 6-foot mighty mite, ripped the ball away from the 6-foot-6, 220-pound forward, who could double as an NFL linebacker.

"I thought we cracked for the first time (this season)," said Michigan State coach Tom Izzo, who built an elite program largely on a foundation of toughness.

Illinois (16-6, 5-4 Big Ten) didn't snap a three-game losing streak solely because of Abrams, of course. He was but a role player. Brandon Paul had 18 points, nine rebounds and five assists. The Illini forced the Spartans into 16 turnovers and 24.1 percent shooting, their worst mark of the season.

And Abrams has some work to do on his ball handling, outside shot, learning the point guard position, blah, blah, blah.

But he plays like his scholarship depends on it. He comes from 63rd Street on Chicago's South Side, where daily life was a fight for a loose ball and there was no possession arrow. That's why Abrams is as hardened as asphalt. And why lead recruiter Jerrance Howard said when Abrams signed that he is "the kind of guy you go to a Final Four with."

The aforementioned three-pointer came with two minutes left when it seemed there were more blood stains on Dawson's shorts than points on the board. It came within the motion offense — not on a set play — and Abrams swished only his third three of the Big Ten season.

"Tracy Abrams — that shot he made — we'll see what happens, that might have saved the season for Illinois," ESPN analyst Dan Dakich said afterward.

Before a practice last week, Abrams had joked he "wouldn't mind a 12- or 15-point blowout," simply to break this heart-burning run of close games.

Illinois has played in seven consecutive games decided by five points or less. The last time that happened — 1929 — final scores were in the 20s and 30s. So you could say not (that) much has changed.

"This was WWF or whatever the heck it is," coach Bruce Weber said. "Just a very physical game."

Stranger still, these Illini may have lost three straight, but they tacked wins against No. 5 Ohio State and No. 9 Michigan State (17-5, 6-3) on either end. It's the first time since the Final Four season in 2004-05 that Illinois has beaten two Top 10 teams.

"We really don't care at all (about the lack of offense)," Paul said. "It's a win. It's a W. It's still a confidence-builder."

"We didn't shoot well. We didn't rebound well," said Abrams, who finished with five points. "So we did something well. I think that's toughness."

Michigan State star Draymond Green was a nonfactor due to foul trouble and a knee injury that could be severe. Officials said they would know more today. In the days leading up to the game, Weber had marveled at Green's "will to win" and "leadership," hoping someone on this roster would emerge with those qualities.

How many times have we heard the Illini are searching for a leader? Well, the Illini got their guy. It might not be this season. But the leadership gene is ingrained in Abrams. Weber said Abrams and Mike Shaw have been the ringleaders of the six-player freshman class. For one thing, they've already reserved a six-room home for their sophomore years.

"He has a knack," Weber said of Abrams, the first player in the 2011 class to commit to Illinois. "He has that toughness. He's that pied piper. He wants to be a part of something special."