Illinois Drops 65-63 Decision To Indiana

Indiana's Trayce Jackson-Davis led his team to the win with 21 points on 69% shooting. Kofi Cockburn led all scorers with 23 points and Coleman Hawkins had the best game of his career, scoring 18 points on a career-high four three-point makes. 

Illinois' postseason started off with a three-pointer from Alfonso Plummer on the first possession of the game. Trayce Jackson-Davis got Indiana going with a layup, then Trent Frazier hit a deep shot from the same spot as Plummer to take an early 6-2 lead.

However, the Illini offense couldn't stay in rhythm, going the next nine minutes without a field goal make. Indiana capitalized with a 9-0 run as Parker Stewart, Race Thompson and Xavier Johnson all made jumpers while Miller Kopp hit a three. Within the nine-minute span, Illinois still made four free throws to keep them within striking distance of Indiana.

After 11 straight misses by the Illini, Frazier came up big get back within one point of the Hoosiers. Cockburn and Trey Galloway traded a couple layups before Indiana hit a pair of free throws. Coleman Hawkins tied things up with a three-pointer then gave Illinois the lead with a putback. A transition three from Plummer capped of an 8-0 Illini run as they held Indiana scoreless for three minutes.

The Hoosiers made a couple shots in the paint while Cockburn made a hook shot down low. Phinisee stepped up for the Hoosiers, making a couple layups to pull within one point of the Illini. While Phinisee made the last shot of the half, another Hawkins three just before gave Illinois a 33-31 lead at halftime.

Both offenses came out strong to start the second half as Johnson made a jumper and Frazier scored a layup. Then, Cockburn and Jackson-Davis went to battle, each making a pair of layups.

While a Frazier three-pointer put Illinois up 42-38,  Indiana countered with a 9-0 run as the Illini went five minutes without scoring. A dunk from Cockburn ended the drought, but Thompson drilled a three, giving the Hoosiers a 50-44 lead with just under 11 minutes to play. Cockburn and Johnson each traded shots before Hawkins hit another corner three to make it a three-point game.

The Illini defense upped the intensity as Curbelo fought for a couple defensive rebounds that led to a Cockburn layup. Johnson and Curbelo traded layups then Hawkins tied the game up at 54-54 with a free throw.

Hawkins drilled another momentum-swinging three-pointer, notching his career high fourth three of the game. However, Illinois' lead was short-lived as Jackson-Davis went to work and scored four straight points for the Hoosiers. Hawkins and Jackson-Davis kept trading shots, but a layup from Galloway gave Indiana a 62-59 lead with under three minutes to play.

While the Illini locked down on defense in the final few minutes, the offense went another four minutes with no field goal makes. With under a minute to play, Cockburn was fouled and made both free throws, giving Illinois a one-point lead. But Jackson-Davis took it right back, hitting two free throws with 20 seconds to play. 

Illinois called a timeout with 15 seconds to go, but turned the ball over to give Indiana a shot at the free throw line. After Kopp missed the attempt, Illinois couldn't finish on the offensive end, falling to the Hoosiers.

The Illini will now wait for Selection Sunday to determine the rest of their postseason schedule.