Illini Magically Upend Unlucky Irish, 82-72
By Jeff Mayfield

[December 01, 2021]   The Illinois Fighting Illini used gritty first half play, deadly 3-point shooting accuracy, and good ball movement to forge a 31-24 halftime lead over the Notre Dame Fighting Irish Monday night at the State Farm Center. Illinois pulled away in the second half and eventually prevailed, 82-72.

Kofi Cockburn led all scorers with 28 points, while Alfonso Plummer added 21 and Jacob Grandison chipped in with 9.

The Illini struggled early in the game as the Irish ran a deliberate offense and tried to set the tempo for the game. Unluckily for the Irish, the Illini were onto their ploy. Illinois began to dump it into the big guy in the middle, Kofi, and he either scored or kicked it out to a shooter for a three!
 

Eventually, the Illini pulled away first at half leading 31-24, and then in the second half as they led by as many as 16 points. Notre Dame made it interesting during the last ten minutes, but the Illini staved off the unlucky Irish for the duration by making a slew of free throws in the end.

Coach Underwood called it one of the 5-10 best wins that he has ever been a part of, mostly because the team is beset by the flu bug and injuries of late. The Illini shot 53% from the field, 41% from three-point range, and 79% from the free throw line.

The loss was yet another chapter in the Irish’s bad luck for the day…earlier it was announced that football coach Mark Kelly was leaving Notre Dame to become the new coach at LSU.

With the win Illinois now sports a record of 5-2 and will open Big Ten play by hosting Rutgers Friday night.

[By JEFF MAYFIELD]

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