Cockburn Block Gives Illinois 78-76 Win

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) - Kofi Cockburn used all of his 7-foot frame to stuff Iowa center, Luka Garza before the final horn to clinch Illinois' 78-76 win and the fourth seed in the 2020 Big Ten Tournament.

The rivalry between Illinois and Iowa is heating up.

"Basically, they want to kill us, and we want to kill them," the Illini's Ayo Dosunmu said.

Dosunmu scored 17 points for the Illini, including two clutch jumpers late, Andres Feliz scored 14 points, Kofi Cockburn had 12, and Kipper Nichols added 10 for Illinois (21-10, 12-8 Big Ten).

"I mean, there's a respect factor, but on the court it's pure hate," Dosunmu added. "We just don't like each other."

Luka Garza scored a game-high 28 points for Iowa (20-11, 11-9), which finished in a four-way tie for fifth in the Big Ten and will be the No. 5 seed in the tournament. Joe Toussaint scored 14 and Connor McCaffery added 10.

Illinois coach Brad Underwood can't help but notice the growing intensity between the teams.

"I mean, we don't condone this whole hate thing," he said. "I think that's just the guys on the court. But overall, rivalries are awesome. They are great for sports and college basketball. The players love it, and the fans love it."

Illinois built a 17-point lead late in the game, using a 12-2 run to take a lead it wouldn't relinquish. But that lead evaporated to two points in the final seconds and it took Cockburn blocking a shot by Garza under the basket at the buzzer to seal the win.

Asked if his block of Garza was the best of his career, Cockburn grinned. "Well, it was a game-winning block, so yeah, I'd say it's the most important block of my career for sure."

Cockburn was a big presence for Illinois, scoring nine points in the first 10 minutes. Defensively, the Illini had problems getting stops early and Iowa's Garza took command both in the paint and from the perimeter.

Emotions ran high throughout the game. With less than two minutes left in an entertaining first half, a scrum erupted that resulted in technical fouls for Illinois' Trent Frazier and Da'Monte Williams and Iowa's Connor McCaffery and CJ Fredrick.

The score was tied at 41-41 at the half.

The No. 4 seed gives Illinois another day of rest. The Illini got a double bye in the tournament, while Iowa will have to start a day earlier.

UP NEXT: The Illini will play in Friday in the Big Ten Tournament. 

ILLINOIS POSTGAME NOTES

Illinois finishes the regular season 21-10 overall, the most wins in a season for an Illini squad since the 2012-13 team finished 23-13. 

The Illini's 13-7 Big Ten record finished in solo fourth-place and marks the most conference victories in a season for Illinois since the 2005 squad finished 15-1. 

Illinois owns the largest turnaround this season among schools from the six major conferences (+10 games from 12-21 to 21-10).

Illinois now leads the all-time series with Iowa 86-76 overall and 63-17 in Champaign. 

Illinois snapped a five-game losing streak to Iowa dating back to February 18, 2017.

Illinois turned the ball over just five times, its fewest since recording just four on February 20, 2018  at Michigan State.Kofi Cockburn scored 12 points after managing just six in Iowa City on February 2, and had the game-clinching block of Luka Garza in the final second seal the victory.

Kipper Nichols' 10 points were a season high and his most since scoring 18 against Nebraska on February 2, 2019. Nichols hit 3-of-3 from the field and 4-of-4 from the line.

Andres Feliz scored all of his 14 points in the second half. 

The Illini beat the Hawkeyes in front of a sold out crowd of 15,544, the fifth sellout of the season at State Farm Center. 

Sunday's game was Senior Night at State Farm Center. Four Illini seniors – Andres Feliz, Kipper Nichols, Samson Oladimeji and Tyler Underwood – were honored prior to their final home game as Fighting Illini.