Illini Prevail Over Nebraska, 81-71

After being tied with four minutes left, the Illini ended the game on a 16-6 run, fueled by Trent Frazier and Omar Payne.In a back and forth affair at Nebraska on Tuesday night, Illinois basketball prevailed to stay undefeated in conference play, beating the Cornhuskers 81-71. After being tied with four minutes left, the Illini ended the game on a 16-6 run, fueled by Trent Frazier and Omar Payne.

Frazier finished the night with a season-high 29 points, shooting 50% from the field and three-point range. Frazier's free throw shooting was crucial down the stretch as he finished 8-10 from the line.

While Kofi Cockburn controlled the paint early in the game, scoring 16 points, Payne relieved Cockburn in the final minutes and scored eight points in 10 minutes. Payne's four free throw makes and four blocks helped the Illini run away from the Huskers in the final minutes of the game.

The Illini's inside presence commanded the game as they scored 44 points in the paint and secured 42 rebounds, 15 of those on the offensive end. Cockburn secured his ninth double-double of the season with 13 rebounds while Coleman Hawkins added eight and Payne grabbed five.

Nebraska's offense started the game off strong, making all three of their first three-point attempts. While Jacob Grandison made an early layup for Illinois, the Cornhuskers took an 11-2 lead in the first three minutes.

Cockburn also got involved early, making a layup right after Nebraska's third three, but Derrick Walker also made a layup on the following possession.

Another Nebraska trey fell before Alfonso Plummer got hot, sinking two jumpers while Frazier made a layup to get within six.

Bryce McGowens got an and-1 off a Hawkins foul before the Illini went on a run. Grandison drilled a three assisted by Frazier then Grandison passed it in to Cockburn for a dunk. On the other end, Frazier stole the ball then made the fast break layup to shrink Nebraska's lead to 19-17.

The Cornhuskers ended a two-minute scoring drought with a layup, but Cockburn came right back with a short jumper. After a defensive rebound from Cockburn, Grandison pulled up for a jumper to tie it up. A turnover by the Cornhuskers led to a layup from Cockburn as the Illini took their first lead of the night.

Frazier kept the momentum on Illinois' side, making a short jumper followed by a three from Plummer over a minute later. McGowens ended the Illini's 11-0 run with a pair of free throws on a shooting foul. But, Luke Goode grabbed on offensive rebound on the next trip down which led to a three-pointer from Frazier.

But after an explosive run, the Illini were scoreless the rest of the half as the Cornhuskers took over in the final five minutes. Nebraska made a couple of layups followed by a jumper then a three-pointer to regain the lead. A pair of free throws at the end of the half put the Cornhuskers up 34-31 at halftime.

Both teams traded shots out of the break as Walker made a layup and Cockburn had a slam then a layup. But, Nebraska grabbed consecutive offensive rebounds and capitalized with a jumper then a dunk to keep a four-point lead. Frazier and Alonzo Verge Jr. each made layups before Frazier got the Illini within one point with an and-1.

Cockburn grabbed a rebound on the next defensive trip, then Grandison drove to the hoop to give Illinois its first lead of the half. Nebraska quickly took it back as Kobe Webster hit a quick jumper then Eduardo Andre made a layup off an Illinois turnover.

The Illini bigs took the lead back as Payne made a short jumper then hit a pair of free throws after grabbing his own rebound. Hawkins then checked back in the game and tipped a shot in at the rim off a miss from Cockburn. Illinois continued a strong defensive stretch as Frazier got a steal then drove down for a layup to go up 51-47.

After another two-minute scoring drought from the Huskers, Verge jr. made a layup, but Frazier countered with a pair of free throws. C.J. Wilcher hit a three to get Nebraska within one point, but the teams continued to trade shots for a couple minutes, as Illinois held onto a slim lead.

With about five minutes left in the game, Frazier drained his second three of the night, but the Huskers fired back once again as McGowens dunked the ball then split free throws on the next possession. Grandison sunk a three, but a layup from Walker shrunk Illinois' lead back down to 65-63.

While McGowens tied things up with free throws, Payne checked back into the game and fueled the Illini. After a putback from Hawkins, Payne blocked his fourth shot of the game then dunked on the other end. After a defensive stop, Frazier drove to the hoop then found Williams for an open three.

Nebraska hit another pair of free throws, but Payne was fouled on the next offensive trip and made both shots. Frazier locked down Verge Jr. on the next possession then iced the game with a three, then a couple free throws with 40 seconds left.

Illinois will be back at State Farm Center Friday night to host Michigan at 8 p.m. CT.

POSTGAME NOTES

Illinois is 5-0 in Big Ten play for the first time since 2005, when it won its first 15 league games. 

Illinois is on a nine-game Big Ten winning streak, claiming its final four games last season along with this year's 5-0 start. 

Illinois' nine-game Big Ten winning streak is its longest since it set a school record with 25 consecutive Big Ten victories spanning the 2004 (10) and 2005 (15) seasons (Jan. 31, 2004-March 3, 2005).

When including its run to the 2021 Big Ten Tournament championship, Illinois has won 12 straight games against conference opponents. 

Illinois has won six straight Big Ten road games – and 11 of its last 12 – also taking five in a row last season from Dec. 23-Feb. 20.

Illinois outrebounded Nebraska, 42-31. The Illini have outrebounded 13 of 15 opponents and rank second in the NCAA in rebound margin at +14.1 rpg, behind only Kentucky's 15.1.

Illinois is outrebounding its opponents 238-140 (47.6-28.0 rpg) in its four Big Ten games. Even excluding Kofi's 74 Big Ten rebounds, the Illini have still outrebounded their opponents 164-140 in Big Ten games.

Illinois is averaging 85.5 points over the last 10 games (855), leading to a 9-1 record. The Illini rank 24th nationally in scoring offense for the season, averaging 80.5 points. 

Trent Frazier had a game-high 29 points, his most since scoring 30 at Minnesota 1/3/19 during his sophomore season. Frazier is No. 11 on the Illinois scoring list (1,601), 52 points away from cracking the all-time Top 10.

Wooden Award Midseason Top 25 honoree Kofi Cockburn had 16 points and 13 rebounds for his 10th double-double of the season, tied for the fourth-most in the nation. He has posted double-doubles in eighth straight games, including all five Big Ten contests.

Cockburn is one of just two players in the NCAA this season averaging at least 20 points and 10 rebounds (Jamal Cain, Oakland). The last Illini to average 20 & 10 was Nick Weatherspoon in 1973 (25.0 ppg, 12.3 rpg).

Cockburn ranks fifth in the nation in scoring at 22.0 ppg and ranks third in the NCAA in rebounding at 12.5 rpg. 

Omar Payne had a season-high eight points and added five rebounds off the bench in 10 minutes.