With the score tied at 50 and less than 10 seconds left in the game, Spike Albrecht slapped the ball to start the Michigan inbounds play. Rayvonte Rice eyed Aubrey Dawkins.

Dawkins, who had nine points already in the game, broke to the basket past Rice’s right side as Albrecht lofted a pass toward the lane from his spot at midcourt. Rice spun and trailed a step behind with his bandaged left hand swinging as he ran.

The ball began to descend and Rice slid in front of Dawkins and rose in the air. When they came down, Rice had the ball and his third steal of the night.

The Illinois men’s basketball team would go on to beat Michigan 64-52 in overtime Thursday, closing the game with a 21-2 run. Although Rice only managed four points in the game, his defensive play showed that Rice was both mentally and physically back from his injury.

“He was great in late-game defensive situations,” head coach John Groce said. “I thought he was — what do the players call it — a dog on defense.”

In his first game back from both a broken bone in his left hand and a suspension for a violation of team rules, Rice took some time getting going offensively against the Wolverines.

He missed multiple layups and his only 3-point attempt of the night didn’t even hit the rim. But Rice’s below-average shooting, 2-for-7 from the field, didn’t deter the senior guard from contributing in other areas.

Rice pulled down five rebounds, seemingly always at key points in the game, and played stellar defense, despite picking up his fourth foul midway through the second half.

“A lot of guys that are as talented as Ray, when you get back for your first game, would try to play out of character,” Groce said. “I thought he tried to fit in and tried to help us win, and boy did he do that.” 

After shaking off the rust against Michigan, Rice seemed noticeably improved offensively against Wisconsin on Sunday. He went 4-for-12 in the game, finished with 10 of the Illini’s 49 points and grabbed four rebounds.

“He’s getting his rhythm back,” senior center Nnanna Egwu said. “That’s all it takes. He’ll take another game to get even more of a rhythm and you can see he’s getting his groove back.”

While Rice said he’s getting his confidence and conditioning back with every minute of game time, there has been one thing he’s struggled with since coming back: the bandage on his hand.

“It’s noticeable,” Rice said. “But I’ve got to play through it and do what ever I have to do to help our team win.”

When asked if he knows when he’ll be able to play without the bandage, Rice said that decision would be up to the trainer.

During Rice’s nine-game absence, sophomores Malcolm Hill and Kendrick Nunn stepped up to lead the Illini offensively. Hill had more than 25 points in two games over that span and seemed to take control of the offense with Rice, the team’s leading scorer before his injury, on the bench.

With Rice back on the floor, the Illini have had to adjust offensively. Ever the team player, Rice said that he welcomes Hill and Nunn having bigger roles in the offense because it gives the Illini more options on that side of the ball.

“That just makes us a better team,” Rice said. “We just need to find a balance. Once we do that, we’ll be a great team.”

Nicholas can be reached at [email protected] and on Twitter

@IlliniSportsGuy.