Illinois Upsets Michigan, 71-62

"He's very strong on the inside," Michigan coach Juwan Howard said. "Very physical guy and one of the best offensive rebounders in NCAA basketball."

Cockburn dominated from the opening tip, making two dunks that brought the crowd to its feet.

"I'm really proud of my team, my guys," Illinois coach Brad Underwood. "As difficult as Saturday was (against Maryland), they proved they can handle themselves. This was Big Ten basketball at its finest. It was a good game, a real smash-mouth basketball game."

Ayo Dosunmu added 14 points, Andres Feliz had 13 and Giorgi Bezhanishvili 12 for Illinois (7-3, 1-1 Big Ten).

"We closed this one out, but it was close, I mean we went from 12 up to four up in the blink of an eye. Underwood said. "We're right there in the conference. It's just going to be that kind of a year."

Jon Teske scored 16 points for Michigan (8-3, 1-1). Eli Brooks and Isaiah Livers each scored 12 points.

With about four minutes left in the game, Cockburn hit a basket and was fouled. While celebrating, he inadvertently hit referee Lewis Garrison in the head and knocked him unconscious. Illinois spokesman Derrick Burson said Garrison was cleared on site by our doctors and taken to a hospital as a precaution.

"I'm a really emotional guy," Cockburn said. We've lost the last couple of close games and that just me being passionate, I hit him and I feel bad. I went and told him after the game that I was sorry. He didn't seem mad at me."

After close losses to Miami and No. 3 Maryland, in which the lIlini had the ball and a chance to win both, they showed they could close out a good team.

UP NEXT

Illinois hosts Old Dominion at State Farm Center (5 pm CT on BTN).

TEAM NOTES

Illinois', 71-62, victory over Michigan on Wednesday is the first win over a top-5 opponent since the Illini took down No. 1 Indiana, 74-72, on February 7, 2013.

The Illini move to 7-3 on the season and 1-1 in B1G play.

Illinois now leads the all-time series against Michigan, 88-85.

Illinois controlled the glass on Wednesday, out-rebounding Michigan, 44-28.

The Illini outscored the Wolverines, 44-26 in the paint.

Four Illini finished in double-digit scoring figures Wednesday: freshman Kofi Cockburn (19 points), sophomore Ayo Dosunmu (14 points), senior Andres Feliz (13 points) and sophomore Giorgi Bezhanizhvili (12 points). 

INDIVIDUAL NOTES

Kofi Cockburn is the first Illini freshman to record a double-double (19 points, 10 rebounds) during a win over a top-10 team since Deon Thomas (redshirt freshman had 12 points and 10 rebounds to lead the Illini to a 102-96 win over Shaquille O'Neal's No. 10 LSU on December 22, 1990.

Cockburn sent back a season-high four shots against the Wolverines.

Sophomore Ayo Dosunmu added 14 points and grabbed a season-best eight rebounds.

Senior Andres Feliz recorded 13 points, shooting 67 percent from the field (6-9).

Sophomore Giorgi Bezhanishvili tallied 12 points and hauled in eight rebounds. 

Redshirt senior Kipper Nichols tied a career-high with three steals in the win over Michigan.