Illinois Defeats Northwestern, 73-66

By Matt Haufe

FightingIllini.com

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The No. 5 Fighting Illini men's basketball team defeated the Northwestern Wildcats 73-66 Tuesday night at State Farm Center.

The Illini were led by double-digit performances from four different players, including Ayo Dosunmu's 13 points and five assists, and Kofi Cockburn's fourth-straight double-double (17 points, 10 rebounds).

Both Adam Miller and Georgi Bezhanishvili dropped 10 points on the evening. Da'Monte Williams added five assists for the Illini, and Andre Curbelo grabbed seven boards in the rivalry win.

After a defensive battle in the first half left the Illini with an eight-point lead, Northwestern managed to charge and pull within one of the Illini with 4:44 left in the game. That's when Ayo Dosunmu again took control of the game, scoring eight of the Illini's final 13 points, including a dagger three-pointer with :39 left, to seal the Illini's 11th B1G win.

DOUBLE-DOUBLE MACHINE

Kofi Cockburn recorded his 15th double-double of the season in the win over Northwestern, which ranks second in the nation, and has recorded a double-double in 12 of 14 B1G games this season. Cockburn is just one of three players from the high-major conferences currently averaging a double-double (17.4 ppg, 10.6 rpg).

NEXT UP

The Illini travel to Minneapolis to take on Minnesota on Saturday, Feb. 20. Tipoff is scheduled for 2:30 PM CT and will be televised on Fox and the Busey Bank Illini Sports Network.

NOTES

• Illinois has won six Big Ten games in a row. 

• Illinois' 11-3 conference record is its best through 14 games since the 2005 Big Ten championship team started 13-0 en route to a 15-1 league record. 

• Over the last two Big Ten seasons, Illinois has the best win percentage (.706) and the most wins (24). 

Big Ten Wins 2020 & 2021

24 - Illinois 

23 - Wisconsin 

22 - Ohio State 

20 - Iowa 

Big Ten Win Percentage 2020 & 2021

.706 - Illinois 

.657 - Wisconsin 

.633 - Michigan 

.629 - Ohio State 

• Illinois is 13-1 this season when holding teams to less than 45% shooting.

• Illinois has held 10 of its last 11 opponents to less than 44% shooting. Since the loss to Ohio State, Illini foes are shooting a combined 39.8% over the last six games (150-377). 

• Illinois held Northwestern to only four assists, the lowest by an Illini opponent this season. It was Northwestern's lowest since 2/19/2014 at No. 24 Ohio State (4). 

• Illinois shot 60% or better in the first half of a Big Ten game for the first time since 1/16/2019 vs. Minnesota. 

• Kofi Cockburn ranks second in the NCAA with 15 double-doubles this season. He has posted double-doubles in 12 of 14 Big Ten games, averaging 18.8 points and 11.3 rebounds during league play. Cockburn's 15 double-doubles are tied for the most by an Illini in a season since 1987 (Mike Davis also had 15 in 2009-10).

• At 17.4 ppg and 10.6 rpg overall, Cockburn is one of just three players from the high-major conferences currently averaging a double-double. He is on pace to become the first Illini player since Nick Weatherspoon in 1973 (25.0 ppg, 12.3 rpg) to average a double-double for an entire season. 

• Kofi Cockburn is one of seven players nationally averaging at least 17 points and 10 rebounds, and he is the only player in the NCAA averaging 15+ points and 10+ boards while shooting at least 65%. 

• Ayo Dosunmu has scored at least 10 points in each of the last 35 games, the fourth longest active streak in the nation. 

• Ayo Dosunmu is 12-18 from the field in the final 90 seconds of regulation and overtime this season, according to ESPN Stats & Info.

• Illinois checks in at No. 5 in this week's AP rankings. It is the first time the Illini appear in the Top 5 of a February poll since 2005, and just the fourth time in the last 65 seasons (1989, 2001 and 2005).