Illinois Knocks Off Michigan In OT, College Scores

Champaign, IL (SportsNetwork.com) -- Kendrick Nunn scored a game-high 21 points as the Illinois Fighting Illini took down the Michigan Wolverines in overtime, 64-52, in a Big Ten Conference battle at the State Farm Center.

Ahmad Starks tacked on 12 points off the bench and Malcolm Hill 11, the latter shooting just 4-of-16 from the floor for the Illini (17-8, 7-5 Big Ten) as they picked up their fourth straight win and the fifth in the last six outings.

Rayvonte Rice, who has been dealing with a broken left hand, made his return to the floor for the first time since Jan. 3 versus Ohio State and tallied four points, five rebounds and three steals in 27 minutes off the bench for Illinois.

Michigan (13-12, 6-7) was paced by Spike Albrecht with 13 points and five assists, followed by Max Bielfeldt off the bench with 12 points and seven boards. Zak Irvin accounted for eight points and eight rebounds, but shot only 3-of-12 from the floor.

Both teams had trouble scoring in the first half as each side made a total of only nine field goals, but thanks to a 4-of-4 showing at the free-throw line the Wolverines were able to take a slim 22-20 advantage at the break. Michigan, which missed all five chances behind the 3-point line through the first 20 minutes, limited Illinois to 2-of-11 on the perimeter.

Trailing by as many as eight points in the second half, Illinois closed the gap down the stretch by putting on a 7-0 run to close out regulation.

The Illini knotted the score at 50-50 with 1:21 left in regulation with a 3-pointer from the left corner. The teams then traded empty possessions and after calling timeout with 15.7 seconds remaining, Michigan put the ball in play and was fouled three times before getting off a shot.

Illinois then picked off an inbound pass and was fouled with 3.4 seconds left. The Illini were forced to go the length of the floor and managed to get off a shot from just inside halfcourt, but the attempt missed to the right of the rim, sending the meeting into overtime.

The hosts then scored the first 14 points of the extra session and never looked back. The only points for Michigan in the period came at the free-throw line with just over 14 seconds remaining.

The Fighting Illini grabbed the win despite shooting only 38.7 percent from the field.

Michigan, which was held scoreless in the last overtime game versus Michigan State back on Feb. 1, won the first meeting of the campaign versus the Illini on Dec. 30, 2014 with a 73-65 overtime decision at home.

EIU Men 66, Austin Peay 55

CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. -- Seniors Reggie Smith and Josh Piper provided sparks at different times on Thursday night and newcomers Cornell Johnston and Trae Anderson provided the rest of the offense as Eastern Illinois picked up a 66-55 road win at Austin Peay.

EIU improved to 15-10 overall, 8-4 in the OVC.  EIU returns to action on Saturday night with a 7 p.m. game at SIU Edwardsville.  The game will be televised on Fox Sports Midwest.  APSU fell to 7-18, 2-9 in the OVC.

The first half was back and forth between the two teams as they had ten lead changes and nine ties with EIU leading 39-31 at the half.

Johnston started the scoring for EIU before the opening tip sinking two free throws on a technical foul.  Johnston would keep the offense flowing for the Panthers in the opening portion of the half scoring ten points by the second media timeout.  Johnston had 15 points in the first half and 20 for the game.  The freshman guard added eight assists.

Austin Peay Women 83, EIU 72

CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. -- Austin Peay scored the first basket of the game and led the entire contest picking up a 83-72 win over Eastern Illinois on Thursday night in Clarksville, Tenn.

EIU fell to 8-17 overall, 5-7 in the OVC.  EIU will return to action next Wednesday at Murray State with a 7 p.m. start.  APSU improved to 9-16 overall, 6-6 in the OVC.

Jennifer Nwokocha scored the first basket of the game converting a three point play.  The Lady Govs extended the lead to 10-2 as Beth Rates made a jumper in the paint.  APSU finished the night with a 40-24 points in the paint advantage.

Tiasha Gray would push APSU’s lead to 12 points on a pair of free throws with 9:48 to play as they led 28-16.  Gray led all players with 31 points going 9-of-14 at the free throw line.

Alece Shumpert, who had not scored for EIU since the second game of the season, was the hero for the Panthers in the first half coming off the bench and hitting 4-of-4 from 3-point range.  Shumpert finished with 18 points.

Murray State 78, SIUE 46

MURRAY, Ky. -- Murray State ran the second-longest winning streak in the country to 20 games Thursday with a 78-46 win over SIUE in Ohio Valley Conference men's basketball at the CFSB Center.

SIUE has now lost three in a row and fell to 9-14 overall and 5-7 in the OVC. The Racers improved to 22-4 overall and 12-0 in the OVC.

(3) Gonzaga 80, Loyola Marymount 51

Spokane, WA (SportsNetwork.com) -- Kyle Wiltjer had 21 points and 10 rebounds and No. 3 Gonzaga held Loyola Marymount without a field goal over the first 12 minutes of the game on the way to an 80-51 win on Thursday night. Gonzaga opened the game on a 20-0 run before Loyola Marymount scored its first point on a foul shot over eight minutes in. The Lions missed their first 12 shots, two of their first six free throws and had six turnovers before Ayodeji Egbeyemi hit a jumper for their first field goal.

(10) Utah 75, Stanford 59

(Salt Lake City, UT) -- Delon Wright put up 15 points to help guide 10th-ranked Utah past Stanford 75-59 at the Huntsman Center. Dallin Bachynski tallied 13 points off the bench as the Utes moved to 19-4 and 9-2 in conference play with their fifth win in six games. Utah squares off with Cal on Sunday.
 

(25) SMU 75, Cougars 69

(Houston, TX) -- Southern Methodist is now the first-place team in the AAC after a 75-69 win over Houston at Hofheinz Pavilion. SMU led by 17 at one point in the second half and held off a late Cougar rally. Markus Kennedy scored 17 for SMU as the team shot 54-percent from the field. Nic Moore added 15 points for the Mustangs. They will host the Connecticut Huskies at Moody Coliseum tomorrow.

Thursday, February 12 Scoreboard

NCAA Top-25 Men's Basketball  ("USA Today" Rankings)

#2 Gonzaga Bulldogs 80, Loyola Marymount Lions 51

#10 Utah Utes 75, Stanford Cardinal 59

#25 SMU Mustangs 75, Houston Cougars 69

Friday, February 13 Schedule (All Times Central)

NCAA Top-25 Men's Basketball  ("USA Today" Rankings)

8:00 p.m. - #7 Arizona Wildcats at Washington Huskies