In a thrilling Big Ten showdown on Sunday night, No. 14 Illinois managed to hold on for an 87-84 victory over Nebraska in Champaign, Ill., despite squandering a 10-point lead in the final minutes of regulation.
Coleman Hawkins led the charge for Illinois, contributing 20 points, seven rebounds, and five assists, while Marcus Domask and Terrence Shannon Jr. added 19 and 18 points, respectively. The win propelled Illinois (17-5, 8-3 Big Ten) into a second-place tie in the conference alongside Wisconsin, sitting 1 1/2 games behind Purdue.
Nebraska’s Keisei Tominaga had a standout performance with a career-high 31 points, supported by Rienk Mast’s 22 points and Juwan Gary’s impressive 12 points and 11 rebounds off the bench.
The Huskers staged a remarkable comeback in the final minutes of regulation, scoring 11 consecutive points to take a 73-72 lead. Mast’s short, banked hook with 9.3 seconds left shifted the momentum in favor of Nebraska. However, Illinois had a chance to respond, and Domask drew a shooting foul with 3.1 seconds remaining. Despite being an 89-percent free-throw shooter, Domask missed his second attempt, sending the game into overtime tied at 73-73.
Overtime saw a determined effort from both teams, with Quincy Guerrier and Domask each contributing four points to secure the victory for Illinois. The narrow win not only showcased Illinois’ resilience but also solidified their position in the competitive Big Ten standings.
Nebraska had controlled the first half, with Tominaga leading the charge by scoring 15 points, including two crucial 3-pointers. Despite Illinois closing the gap with a breakaway slam from Shannon, Nebraska took a 36-34 lead into halftime.
Illinois, however, wasted no time in the second half, swiftly taking control by converting layups on their first six possessions. The team’s offensive prowess, led by Guerrier, Ty Rodgers, and Shannon, saw them build a 47-40 edge, prompting Nebraska to call a timeout with 16:26 remaining.
In response, Nebraska switched to a zone defense, slowing down Illinois and narrowing the gap to 57-55. Illinois attempted to pull away in the final minutes, with Shannon and Hawkins hitting crucial 3-pointers to establish a 72-62 lead with 3:29 left. Nevertheless, Nebraska’s late rally kept the game on a knife-edge, ultimately leading to an intense overtime period.
The victory for Illinois serves as a testament to their ability to weather storms and emerge triumphant in closely contested matchups. As the Big Ten competition intensifies, teams will need to display resilience and strategic prowess to navigate the challenging road ahead.
