Field Level Media
Feb 27, 2022
Kofi Cockburn scored 27 points to lead No. 15 Illinois to a 93-85 road win over Michigan in a Big Ten game Sunday in Ann Arbor, Mich.
Alfonso Plummer scored 23 of his 26 points in the first half, and Trent Frazier added 17 points for Illinois (20-8, 13-5), which moved into a tie for second place in the league standings.
DeVante Jones scored 25 points and Caleb Houstan 21 for Michigan (15-12, 9-8).
Illinois shot 56.7 percent from the field, including 58.8 percent from 3-point range, while Michigan shot 50.9 percent from the field and made 22 of 25 free throws.
Illinois led 82-77 with 2:40 remaining, but Michigan cut the gap to 82-80 on a 3-pointer by Houstan with 2:03 left.
Illinois responded, taking an 84-80 lead with 1:46 left on a basket by Cockburn and then going up 87-80 on a 3-pointer by Trent Frazier as the shot clock was winding down with 45.2 seconds remaining.
Andre Curbelo added two free throws with 33.6 seconds left to give Illinois an 89-80 lead.
Illinois held a 46-38 advantage at halftime, then built a 54-42 lead with 16:44 remaining in the game before Michigan responded with five straight points to make it 54-47 with 15:52 left.
Illinois mounted another run, taking a 64-51 lead with 12:37 remaining on a dunk by Cockburn. The Illini pushed their lead to 15 at 74-59 with 9:32 to go, but Michigan countered with five straight points to stay within striking distance at 74-64 with 8:09 left.
The Wolverines continued to put a dent in the Illinois lead, going on a 7-0 run to make it 76-71 after a 3-pointer by Jones with 6:32 remaining.
Illinois responded, answering with five straight points to lead 81-71 with 4:49 left, but Michigan scored six straight to make it 81-77 with 3:12 to play.
--Field Level Media