Illini Fall to Penn State, Final Four Team Honored

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – On a day with the famed Flyin' Illini Final Four team was honored on its 30th anniversary, this year's edition of the Fighting Illini never got fully off the ground in an 83-76 loss to visiting Penn State at State Farm Center.

Freshman Ayo Dosunmu had 18 points, all after halftime, and Andres Feliz added 17 points for the Fighting Illini. Freshman Giorgi Bezhanishvili had 16 points and 10 rebounds, his first career double-double.

The game was intense and included a second-half technical foul on Illinois coach Brad Underwood, who kicked a chair following a call he disagreed with. Illinois went on a 7-3 run following the technical.

The Nittany Lions were 26 of 53 (49 percent) from the field, while Illinois was 26 of 66 (39 percent).

Both teams struggled defensively in the first half, while the Illini's offense went cold for long stretches. Illinois shot only 35 percent from the field in the first half, while Penn State shot 50 percent.

The Nittany Lions led 39-32 at the half.

In the second half, Penn State led by as many as 15, 61-46, before going on a run to close within four, 70-66, in the final minutes. Penn State iced the game way with free throws.

Lamar Stevens scored 25 points for Penn State (11-16, 4-12 Big Ten), and Mike Watkins got his 26th career double-double for the Nittany Lions.

Illinois (10-17, 6-10), who had won four of its last five heading into the game, now travels to #12 Purdue on Wednesday night.

ILLINOIS POSTGAME NOTES

• Freshman Giorgi Bezhanishvili notched his first career double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds, which tied his career high (10 vs. Evansville, 11/8/18). It was Bezhanishvili's 16th game scoring in double-figures this season.

• Freshman Ayo Dosunmu led the Illini in scoring with 18 points, all coming in the second half. It was his 19th game in double-figures this season and marked the 13th time he led the team in scoring.

• Junior Andres Feliz scored 17 points on 7-11 field goals, his eighth game in double figures this season and his second-most points as an Illini (19 vs. UNLV, 12/8/18).

• The game marked the 30th anniversary celebration of the 1988-89 "Flyin' Illini" Final Four team. The players, coaches and staff from the fan-favorite squad were introduced at halftime and signed autographs for fans after the game.

Belmont 97, SIUE 75

NASHVILLE, Ill. – A strong offensive performance didn't translate into a win for SIUE Saturday. The Cougars fell on the road at first-place Belmont 97-75.

The Cougars connected on 52.7 percent (29-55) of their shots including going 7-17 (41.2 percent) from three-point range. SIUE was 10-13 at the free throw line as well, but none of it was enough to overcome the Bruins who retained at least a share of first place in the Ohio Valley Conference. Belmont is now 14-2 in the OVC and 23-4 overall. SIUE dropped to 9-19 overall and 5-11 in the OVC.

"Those are good offensive numbers," SIUE Head Coach Jon Harris said. "We shot 57 percent in the first half and almost 70 percent from three (6-9, 66.7 percent) at half and we were still down nine."

Down 10-17 with 11:58 to play, SIUE scored 15 of the next 17 points in the game and led 32-22 following a Brandon Jackson three-pointer at the 9:08 mark.

Belmont battled within one before the Cougars pulled away by six following a pair of Daniel Kinchen free throws at 6:09. Dylan Windler and Grayson Murphy hit consecutive three-pointers for Belmont to tie the score at 39 with 4:38 left.

The Bruins finished the half on a 13-4 run to take a nine-point lead into the break.

"We were up 8-10 and we took a couple of questionable shots and had some turnovers," Harris said. "They had 11 points off of turnovers in the first half and that gave them their momentum and they built off of that."

The Bruins pushed the lead to double digits for the first time 1:31 into the second half and never led by less than that.

The Bruins hit 59.7 percent (37-62) of their shots and knocked down 11 of 27 three-point attempts. Belmont outrebounded SIUE 32-22.

"We gave up 10 on the backboards and had 15 turnovers and that's too many against a team like Belmont," Harris said.

The Bruins turned 15 turnovers into 22 points and outscored SIUE 50-32 on points in the paint.

Jackson scored 22 points to lead all scorers. It was the second consecutive game the Cougar junior scored 22. He was 9-15 from the field.

"Brandon is stepping up," Harris said. "His confidence is growing day by day. He is someone who has been consistent with his work and consistent with his effort and approach. He is really growing into a special player for us."

Kinchen added 13 points, 11 of which came in the first half. Jaylen McCoy scored 10.

Six Bruins finished in double figures led by Nick Muszynski's 19 points. The freshman big man scored 14 of his points under the basket, with the other five coming at the foul line. Dylan Windler scored 18 and finished with nine rebounds. Windler was 6-14 and knocked down three triples.

"They do a pretty good job of playing inside-out," Harris said of Belmont. "That's who they are."

Just one week remains in the regular season. SIUE will face Tennessee Tech Thursday and Jacksonville State Saturday at Vadalabene Center. The Cougars need to finish in the top eight in the OVC to qualify for the OVC Tournament.

"We'll have our hands full next week," Harris said. "We need to protect our home floor to go to Evansville."

Tennessee State 70, EIU Women 66

NASHVILLE -- Taylor Steele scored a new career-high 23 points at Tennessee State Saturday night on 5-of-7 from three-point range. The Panthers fell 70-66 in a close battle with the Lady Tigers in their final road game of the year. Steele finished with four rebounds, three assists, and two steals in addition to her new career-high.

EIU is now 10-17 overall and 4-12 in the OVC, while TSU improves to 5-23 overall and 5-11 in the OVC.

The Panthers opened the game with a 6-0 run leading to a 22-15 lead over the Lady Tigers at the end of the first quarter. TSU turned around in the second quarter outscoring EIU 22-13 with a 10-0 run midway through to take the lead for the first time since the first few minutes of the first quarter. Steele would complete a three-point play in EIU's last possession of the half to bring the Panthers within two points.

Steele came out of halftime carrying EIU's offense scoring 11 of their 16 points. She went 3-of-4 from the arc and hit a jumper just out of the paint midway through the third to tie the game 46-46. Grace Lennox would hit a buzzer-beater three-pointer to tie the game 51-51 heading into the fourth quarter.

The beginning of the fourth quarter was back and fourth between the two teams seeing two ties and two lead changes. The Lady Tigers pulled away in the end to win 70-66.

The Panthers shot48.8 percent from the field and 47.1 percent from the arc. Karle Pace went 10-of-12 at the free throw line. Her 10 makes was the first time a player has made 10 or more free throws in a game since the 2013-14 season. Pace finished the game with 21 points, four boards, two assists, and two steals. Jalisha Smith also scored double-figures with 11 points. She tallied five boards and three steals.

Tia Wooten scored a team-high 22 points for TSU with five rebounds, three assists, and four steals. Taylor Roberts added 11 points  on 4-of-7 from the bench.

EIU closes the regular season at home next weekend with two games. The Panthers will host Jacksonville State on Thursday Fed. 28 for Kids Day at 12 pm. Senior Day will be Saturday March 2 at 1 pm vs. Tennessee Tech.

Logan Hanson
FightingIllini.com

As soon as he entered the State Farm Center media room, former Illinois Guard Kendall Gill established what the 1988-1989 Illinois Men's Basketball team meant to him.  In a matter of seconds, Gill made his way up through the swarm of media and faculty members to give his former team captain Center Lowell "Low" Hamilton a big hug. It was an easy choice for Gill because he had been waiting for this moment for a while.

"I've looked forward to this for a long time, we rarely are together all at one time anymore…but now seeing all the guys back together I've got tingles," said Gill, "Seeing Nick and Marcus and Larry and 'Low' and all the guys, anytime you're part of a special team like that you form a brotherhood."

The brotherhood was clearly evidenced throughout the media room as the former Flyin' Illini teammates met again to celebrate their 30th anniversary. Although the day marked the 30 years since the team's accomplishments, it was as though time didn't pass for any of the members of one of the most electrifying teams to don the Orange and Blue.  High fives were thrown, hugs were given and plenty of jokes were made as the members of the team celebrated a day to reminisce about their historic run to the Final Four.

"Time flies, 30 years," said former Guard Nick Anderson, "We had some good times in here…it's great to be back."

The 1988-89 team was one of the most successful teams in Illinois' illustrious history. The team won a then record 31 games on their way to advancing to the Final Four in Seattle in 1989. One of the greatest moments for the team included the Flyin' Illini capturing the number one ranking in front of the home crowd with a 103-92 victory over Georgia Tech. It marked only the second time in Illinois history that the team earned the number one ranking and the first time since 1952. The Final Four appearance was only the fourth for the program and is one of five for the Illini program today.

In front of a sold out crowd of over 15,000 people, the Flyin' Illini were honored at halftime with a video montage followed by a standing ovation from the Illinois faithful. The most memorable moment of the ceremony came when Head Coach Lou Henson was introduced to the crowd and his former players gathered around the man they called coach.

"It's a family and it's like a family reunion," said Gill, "You haven't seen each other in a long time you saw how I came in and hugged all the guys because I genuinely miss them so it's a great time."

Throughout the game, the videoboard showed some of the team's most unforgettable moments including their Elite Eight victory over Syracuse and a last second game-winning shot by Anderson to lift the Illini over the Indiana Hoosiers. Flying Illini bobbleheads were available for fans to purchase at the State Farm Center. After the game, the Flyin' Illini team members also participated in an autograph session for the sellout crowd. The fan appreciation was one of the most meaningful things for the former players.

"It's a sellout, I mean what more can you ask for?" said former captain Forward Kenny Battle, "Last game we played here was a sellout and now we come back 30 years and there's another sellout. That lets you know that you did something right to continue to get a sellout every time you come into the building."

Whether it is for their historic achievements or their mesmerizing moments, the Flyin' Illini will always be remembered by the Illini and their fans. Although the years have come fast, the Flyin' Illini are still connected and will be forever because for team members it is more than just a team, it's family.

"It was a family," said Anderson "I said it last night amongst all of us, we're a family and family stays together."