Illinois emerges with foul-filled win over Indiana

[January 25, 2018]  Illinois shot 22 of 30 at the foul line in the second half Wednesday night to earn its first Big 10 Conference win of the season, a come-from-behind, 73-71 victory over Indiana at State Farm Center in Champaign, Ill.

Trent Frazier and Leron Black each scored 19 points for the Fighting Illini (11-11, 1-8 Big Ten). Kipper Nichole added 12, including a 3-pointer with 2:16 left that was Illinois' only field goal in the final 10:55. Te'Jon Lucas chipped in 11 points.

Juwan Morgan pumped in a game-high 28 points for the Hoosiers (12-9, 5-4), hitting 12 of 14 field-goal attempts and grabbing a game-high nine rebounds. Indiana's Zach McRoberts scored 10 points.

Illinois took the lead for good with 11:41 left on Frazier's layup that made it 53-51. The Illini owned an eight-point lead with 56 seconds remaining after two free throws by Lucas but nearly blew the lead, as it has in multiple conference losses.

Morgan's three-point play with 40 seconds left pulled Indiana within three points, and a free throw by Devonte Green made it 73-71 with 8.3 ticks on the clock. Morgan fouled Frazier before the ball could be inbounded, but Frazier missed both free throws.

The Hoosiers could have forced overtime with a 2-pointer or won it with a 3-pointer, but Morgan couldn't handle a bounce pass in the lane and Illinois' Mark Alstork stole the ball with 0.1 seconds left to seal it.

The teams combined for 32 fouls and 51 free throws in a marathon second half.

 

Indiana Hoosiers forward Justin Smith (3), guard Robert Johnson (4), forward Freddie McSwain Jr. (21), guard Aljami Durham (1), and guard Josh Newkirk (2) wait for the end of a timeout during the second half against the Illinois Fighting Illini at State Farm Center. Mandatory Credit: Mike Granse-USA TODAY Sports

Indiana scored on its first three possessions and led for all but 31 seconds of the first half. The Hoosiers established a 10-4 advantage just 2:57 into the game after Morgan converted a layup.

The lead never got to double figures, and Illinois was able to chop the deficit to 24-20 on a 3-pointer by Frazier. The Hoosiers were able to push the lead back to nine when Robert Johnson drilled a 3-pointer with 56 seconds remaining before the break, and they went to the half with a 38-32 advantage.

--Field Level Media

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