Illini Fall To Miami In BIG/ACC Challenge

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Freshman Kofi Cockburn scored 23 points and the Fighting Illini nearly erased a 27-point deficit before falling to Miami, 81-79, Monday night in the B1G/ACC Challenge.

UP NEXT

The Illini open Big Ten player with a trip to No. 3 Maryland on Saturday, Dec. 7, before returning home to host No. 4 Michigan on Wednesday, Dec. 11. 

TEAM NOTES

• Illinois trailed by as many as 27 points in the first half (45-18) and was down 19 at the half (50-31) before stroming back to within one in the final seconds (80-79). The comeback stalled when Ayo Dosunmu was called for an offensive foul with 2.7 seconds left. 

• Illinois shot 11-25 (44.0%) in the first half and 17-28 (60.7%) in the second half.

• Illinois outrebounded Miami 19-9 in the second half. Offensive rebounds were 6-2 Illinois in the second half, leading to eight second-chance points.

• The game opened the 21st annual Big Ten/ACC Challenge. Illinois is now 8-13 in Challenge games. 

PLAYER NOTES

• Junior guard Trent Frazier's 4-5 night from the three-point line marked the best three-point percentage of his career when taking five or more threes.

• Freshman center Kofi Cockburn tied a career high with 23 points, hitting 8-of-8 from the field and 7-of-8 from the line. 

• Cockburn is the first Illini with 20+ points on 8+ field goals made while shooting 100% since at least 2010-11. Furman's Noah Gurley (25 points, 10-10 shooting vs. Southern Wesleyan) and Arizona's Zeke Nnaji (26 points, 8-8 shooting vs. San Jose State) are the only other Division I players with such games this season.