Nebraska @ Illinois preview

Last Meeting ( Feb 2, 2019 ) Nebraska 64, Illinois 71

Illinois looks to reach 10 Big Ten wins for the first time in a decade when it hosts Nebraska on Monday. The Fighting Illini ended a four-game losing skid with an impressive 62-56 road win over No. 9 Penn State on Tuesday, and they hope to stay in the mix for a top-four finish, which would secure a double-bye in the conference tournament in March.

“We were not desperate not even close but there was some urgency no doubt about it,” Illinois coach Brad Underwood told reporters. “I was told we had not won a Top 10 game on the road in 10 years … so that performance is right at the top.” Nebraska set a record for the longest losing streak in program history following an 86-65 setback against 25th-ranked Michigan State on Thursday. The Cornhuskers have dropped 11 consecutive games, which is the most since they lost 10 straight during the 1962-63 campaign, and they hope to avoid their first 20-loss season in school history. “It's kind of hard to find a motivation but we just have to keep trying,” Nebraska forward Yvan Ouedraogo told reporters. “Be focused and try to be there for each other so that’s all we can do.”

TIME: 8 p.m. ET. TV: Big Ten Network

ABOUT NEBRASKA (7-19, 2-13 Big Ten): Dachon Burke Jr. matched his season high with four 3-pointers en route to 21 points against Michigan State to notch his fourth 20-point game of the season. Haanif Cheatham added 14 points, five steals and a pair of blocked shots while Ouedraogo finished with 10 points and seven rebounds, but the Cornhuskers were outscored 47-29 in the second half. “It’s the same old story for us,” Nebraska coach Fred Hoiberg told reporters. “We have to go out there and have two good practices leading into this game on the road.”

ABOUT ILLINOIS (17-9, 9-6): Ayo Dosunmu scored 16 of his team-high 24 points in the second half, including a clutch basket in the final 20 seconds, in the win against Penn State after missing the previous game with a knee injury. Kofi Cockburn added 14 points and seven rebounds despite being plagued by foul trouble to help the Fighting Illini end an 18-game losing skid against Top 25 teams on the road. Alan Griffin tallied nine points and Trent Frazier finished with six as Illinois held the Nittany Lions to 36.2 percent shooting from the field while registering their first win at State College since Feb. 9, 2014.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Illinois is tied for fourth nationally in rebounding margin (+8).

2. Nebraska has dropped 24 of its last 29 Big Ten games dating back to last season.

3. Dosunmu has scored in double figures in each of his last 10 outings.

PREDICTION: Illinois 82, Nebraska 65