Illinois survives Ohio 77-75

[November 30, 2020]  The first two games of the new season were just about picture perfect for Illinois. 50 point plus victories. Shooting percentages off the charts. Freshmen playing like fifth year seniors. Records being smashed in the process. Surely Friday would bring yet another easy victory for the 8th team in the land as they played their third game in three days, right?

Not so fast. Someone forgot to tell the Bobcats of Ohio, the school where John Groce coached prior to his time with the orange and blue. This game was a battle from the very beginning and frankly, Illinois was fortunate to escape with a victory. Multiple times in the second half, it looked like Illinois might be heading for a stunning loss before All-American Ayo Dosunmu came to the rescue, with an assist from Peoria’s DaMonte Williams!

Ayo led Illinois with 27 points, 7 rebound and 8 assists, including two clutch free throws with just seconds left in the game to move Illinois from a one-point deficit to a one-point lead. Big Kofi Cockburn was a monster once again, scoring 13 points and grabbing 14 rebounds for his third straight double-double to start the year. However, it was Williams, so of Illini legend Frank Williams, that gave Illinois the lead late with his third three-point basket of the game, and he also finished with a double-double, the first of his career, with 11 points and 10 rebounds. Illinois dominated on boards, out rebounding the Bobcats 45-25.

The heart-warming story of the year might be that of Ohio’s Jason Preston. The junior guard overcame much adversity, including losing his mother to cancer during high school, to make a powerful statement on the court with much of the Midwest watching on Friday. Preston, who average 2 points a game in high school and received the scholarship offer from Ohio only after creating his own highlight video from pick-up games, was the best player on the court for much of the day and scored 31 points and dished out 8 assists while going head to head with a future NBA player. If you are looking for an unlikely American story of success to celebrate on Thanksgiving weekend, Jason Preston is exhibit #1.

Illinois moves on from this three-day tournament 3-0, but will quickly face much better competition, beginning with the #2 team in the country, the Baylor Bears, on Wednesday evening in Indianapolis. Game time is set for 9pm and you can find the game on ESPN.

[Greg Taylor]