Dosunmu Sinks Jumper With 0.5 For Illinois Win

ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP)- - As the final seconds ticked away in a tie game, Ayo Dosunmu was being guarded by Zavier Simpson, one of the top defenders in the Big Ten.

"The one thing Ayo has is 6-(foot)-5," Illinois coach Brad Underwood said.

Dosunmu took advantage of his 5-inch height edge on Simpson, sinking a contested jumper from the free throw line with 0.5 seconds remaining to give No. 21 Illinois a 64-62 victory over Michigan on Saturday. The Illini extended their winning streak to six and moved into sole possession of first place in the Big Ten for the moment.

"Simpson, he played great defense. He couldn't have guarded that any better," Dosunmu said. "But I just got into my pull-up, got into my moves, and then just knocked the shot down."

Illinois (15-5, 7-2) won despite a quiet game from freshman big man Kofi Cockburn, who fouled out after scoring five points with three rebounds. Michigan (11-8, 2-6) has dropped four in a row and may again be without forward Isaiah Livers because of an injury.

The Wolverines let the game slip away at the foul line, where they went 0 for 5 in the final four minutes. Illinois tied it at 62 on a pair of free throws by Trent Frazier with 52.3 seconds left. Then Jon Teske missed inside for Michigan, and the Illini had the ball back.

"Coach just said, `No ball screen," Dosunmu said. "He told me, just make sure I got the last shot. He believed I was going to make the right play."

Illinois was able to run the clock down and isolate Dosunmu -- who said his nickname was "Iso" in high school -- against Simpson. Dosunmu couldn't shake Simpson with a quick fake, but he was able to elevate and shoot over the Michigan guard.

"We tried everything. Great effort -- I don't think you can tell us that we didn't play hard today," Michigan's Franz Wagner said. "Free throws, a couple defensive lapses -- that's how you lose a game like that."

Michigan had one last possession with under a second left, but the Wolverines didn't get a shot off.

Dosunmu finished with a career-high 27 points on 11-of-18 shooting.

Livers returned for Michigan after missing six games with a groin injury, but he left in the second half after hurting himself again. Livers was fouled during a dunk attempt -- the same way he got hurt the first time -- and came up holding his groin area. He did go back in at the very end to throw the long inbound pass for the Wolverines after Dosunmu's shot.

"His effort out there was great," said coach Juwan Howard, who said Livers is day to day. "Energy from the crowd when his name was called just shows how much he's a huge part of this team's success."
Simpson led Michigan with 17 points.

It's been quite a run for the Illini, who won in Ann Arbor for the first time since 2010. Illinois was tied with Michigan State for first place entering the game. The Spartans have a chance to pull even again when they play Sunday.

UP NEXT

Illinois hosts Minnesota on Thursday, Jan. 30, at 6:30 pm CT. Tickets are on sale at fightingillini.com

ILLINOIS POSTGAME NOTES

• No. 21 Illinois (15-5, 7-2) is in sole possession of first place in the Big Ten. It is the latest Illinois has led the Big Ten since Jan. 31, 2006.

• Illinois is off to its best nine-game start in the Big Ten (7-2) since starting 15-0 in 2005.

• Illinois is on a six-game Big Ten winning streak, the longest active streak in the Big Ten.

• Illinois has won six straight Big Ten games for the first time since setting a school record with 25 consecutive conference wins spanning the 2004 and 2005 seasons (Jan. 31, 2004-March 3, 2005).

• Illinois snapped a five-game losing streak in Ann Arbor spanning nearly 10 years. Illinois' last victory at Crisler Center was a 51-44 victory on Feb. 23, 2010.

• Illinois swept a regular season home-and-home against Michigan for the first time since 2003.

• Illinois leads the Big Ten with three conference road wins and four overall road wins.

• Illinois has won three straight Big Ten road games for the first time since Feb. 7-26, 2017. 

• Illinois won at Wisconsin, at Purdue, and at Michigan for the second time in the last 60 years. Illinois' 2004-05 Big Ten championship and national runner-up team also won at Wisconsin, Purdue, and Michigan.

• Illinois was the second team in the last 27 years to win at Wisconsin, at Purdue, and at Michigan in the same season, joining the 2004-05 Fighting Illini.

• Illinois' winning percentage is +.386 from last year(.750-.364), the second-best improvement in power conferences behind West Virginia's +416 (.833-.417).

• Illinois has matched last season's Big Ten wins total (7-13).

• Illinois leads the all-time series against Michigan 89-85.

• Illinois and Michigan were tied nine times for a total of 6:01 before Ayo Dosunmu's game winner with 0.5 left. There were 12 lead changes. 

• Illinois was outrebounded (37-34) for just the fifth time this season. Illinois is 3-2 when getting outrebounded (wins vs. Old Dominion, at Wisconsin, at Michigan).

• Illinois (6) and Michigan (5) combined for the fewest assists in a game in Illinois history (Illinois (7) vs. Michigan State (4) 1/31/2012). Michigan's five assists were its fewest since two at South Carolina (L, 61-45) 11/23/2016. 

• Ayo Dosunmu had a career-high 27 points including the game winner with 0.5 seconds remaining. 

• Andres Feliz had 15 points on 5-for-9 shooting, tied for his third-most points in a Big Ten game in his career and his most points since 19 against Hampton 11/23/2019.

UT Martin 79, SIUE 76

EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. – Shamar Wright scored a season-high 18 points Saturday for the SIUE men's basketball team, but UT Martin shaded the Cougars 79-76 at the First Community Arena at the Vadalabene Center.

The Skyhawks made four free throws in the final 59 seconds to secure the narrow Ohio Valley Conference win, their fifth consecutive victory at SIUE. The

Cougars, meanwhile, came up empty – two missed shots and a turnover – in their final three possessions.

"We had a little hesitation with some of our aggressiveness at the end of the game," SIUE Head Coach Brian Barone said.  "And they (Skyhawks) hit their last couple of shots and we didn't hit our shots."

While UT Martin improved to 6-13 and 2-6, SIUE dropped to 5-16 and 2-6.

Both teams used scorching shooting to boost their causes in the see-saw game. SIUE made 29 of 54 shots, including 9 of 25 from 3-point land. UT Martin hit on 26 of 55 field-goal attempts, including 11 of 26 on 3-point shots. So the two teams combined for 20 treys in 51 tries.

"It was one of those games when we would hit a 3-pointer and then they would hit a 3-pointer," Barone said. "But there were little things and plays near the end of the game that made a difference."

Wright sought to be the Cougars' difference-maker. The 6-foot, 7-inch freshman from Murrieta, California hit 6 of 10 shots, made one 3-pointer, sank all five of his free throws and collected five rebounds and three assists.

"I felt comfortable and I was in spots where my teammates could get me the ball," the left-handed shooting Wright said. "It was probably my best game of the year.

Wright added, "What I try to do is crash the glass, play my game and not try to force it."

Teammates Mike Adewunmi and Brandon Jackson added to the Cougars' firepower with 15 and 14 points respectively. Adewunmi made all five of his shots, including a trio of 3-pointers. He also converted both of his foul shots. Jackson hit six of seven shots and converted two free throws. And Cam Williams provided 10 points and supplied sturdy defense.

During one stretch in the second half, the Cougars connected on eight consecutive shots and Adewunmi hit four of them. Jackson also made his first six shots. SIUE led 64-55 midway through the second half, but UT Martin went on a 12-2 binge to grab a 67-66 lead with 5:20 remaining. The outcome wasn't decided until the Cougars missed the final shot of the game.

"The effort is there," Barone said of the Cougars. "Our record doesn't show it, but we have come so far in what we are establishing with the program. It's not fun now, but I will continue to let the players know how much I believe in them."

Wright stirred the Cougars in the first half as they built a 40-33 advantage by the break. Wright collected 10 points, four rebounds and three steals. SIUE made 16 of 30 shots, including 4 of 11 from 3-point range.

Quintin Dove's 18 points were best for UT Martin, which had four players scored in double figures. The Skyhawks outrebounded the Cougars 31-27 and made eight turnovers, four fewer than SIUE.

The Cougars hit the road for games at OVC co-leaders Austin Peay on Thursday and Murray State (Saturday, Feb. 1) before coming home to face Morehead State at 7 p.m. on Feb. 6. Eastern Kentucky also visits SIUE at 3:30 Feb. 8.