Dosunmu Returns, Illini Win Over No. 9 Penn State

Kofi Cockburn added 14 points for the Fighting Illini (17-9, 9-6 Big Ten), who led most of the way and ended Penn State's eight-game winning streak.

The win also snapped Illinois' six-game losing streak against Penn State.

Lamar Stevens scored 13 points for the Nittany Lions (20-6, 10-5), who entered with their highest ranking in the AP Top 25 since they were No. 9 at the same point of the 1996 season.

Izaiah Brockington added 10 points for the Nittany Lions, who trailed 30-26 at halftime and by as many as nine points with 5:35 to play.

Penn State got a pair of free throws from Seth Lundy that cut its deficit to 58-56 with a minute left, but Dosunmu iced it with a layup 30 seconds later.

It was back-and-forth early as teams swapped the lead five times in the first. The Illini controlled play for 9:06 and Griffin gave them their biggest lead of the half when he hit a 3-pointer, drew a foul and hit the ensuing free throw to put the Illini up 21-16 with 8:54 before halftime.

Penn State used an 8-1 run, capped by a steal and dunk by Lundy, to retake the lead 4:22 later.

But Illinois got eight straight points from Dosunmu before a put-back by Giorgi Bezhanishvili to go up 30-26 at the break.

The Illini needed a win to keep their NCAA Tournament hopes solid, and getting Dosunmu back certainly helped. The sophomore guard had missed Saturday's loss at Rutgers after suffering an injury to his left knee is a win over Michigan State on Feb. 11. Despite their recent shooting woes, the Illini looked confident against a strong Penn State defense that's been nearly flawless at home.

The Nittany Lions entered the evening a game behind Maryland in the hunt for the Big Ten's top seed. There's still plenty of time for them to recover and make up ground.

UP NEXT: Illinois hosts Nebraska on Monday, Feb. 24 at 7 pm | GET TICKETS

ILLINOIS POSTGAME NOTE

• The Illinois victory snapped a four-game losing streak for the Illini, while also ending Penn State's eight game winning streak. 

• Illinois ended a six-game losing streak against Penn State. The Illini beat Penn State for the first time since Jan. 31, 2015 in Champaign. Illinois won at the Jordan Center for the first time since Feb. 9, 2014.

• Illinois beat a Top-10 team on the road for the first time since Dec. 8, 2012, at No. 10 Gonzaga (W, 85-73).

• Illinois beat a Top-10 Big Ten team on the road for the first time since Dec. 30, 2008 at No. 9 Purdue (W, 71-67 OT).

• Illinois snapped an 18-game losing streak against Top 25 opponents in true road games. Illinois beat No. 13 Maryland last season in NYC, but the Illini's last victory on a ranked team's home court was a 66-63 win at No. 24 Iowa on March 8, 2014, on a Jon Ekey 3 with :00.5 left.

• Illinois now has 4 Big Ten road wins this season (at Wisconsin, at Purdue, at Michigan, at Penn State), tied for the most in the Big Ten with Maryland and Penn State. 

• Ayo Dosunmu scored 24 points, including 16 in the second half on 6-7 FG, just one week after suffering an injury on the final play of the 70-60 loss to Michigan State. He missed the game at Rutgers on Saturday before returning tonight. 

• Dosumnu sealed the game with a dagger runner down the lane with 16.1 seconds left giving the Illini a 60-56 lead. Trent Frazier finished off the scoring with two free throws.