Illinois Takes Thrilling Double OT Win Over Michigan

Mayer poured in 24 points and Shannon added 21 to push the Illini (20-10, 11-8 B1G) past the Wolverines (17-13, 11-8) in their bid to secure the team's fourth consecutive 20-win season in front of a sellout crowd for the regular-season home finale.

Not only did the duo each eclipse the 20-point mark in the win, but both came up clutch in huge late-game situations, combining to score 17 of the Orange and Blue's 21 points across the two overtime periods.

Freshman Ty Rodgers and sophomore RJ Melendez also scored in double-figures for the Illini. Rodgers posted a career-most 14 points off the bench while Melendez, who returned to the starting lineup in place of freshman guard Jayden Epps, added 12.

Each of the eight Illini that played more than 2 minutes contributed offensively. Coleman Hawkins posted six points while also matching Mayer, Rodgers, and Shannon with a team-high seven rebounds. Dain Dainja recorded eight points and four boards, Luke Goode added four points and Sencire Harris tallied an emphatic two on a monster dunk that shifted momentum in the Illini's favor late in the first half of the back-and-forth battle.

That team effort gave the Illini just enough firepower to overcome a 31-point, 16-rebound double-double by Wolverine's center Hunter Dickinson, and 23 and 15 points, respectively, from guards Kobe Bufkin and Jett Howard.

Despite the big game from Dickinson, the Illini enjoyed a 46-32 advantage in the paint, while also holding the edge in second-chance points (15-9), fast break scoring (6-0), and bench scoring (20-9).

Next up, Illinois closes the regular season on the road Sunday at Big Ten regular-season champion and No. 5-ranked Purdue. Tipoff is set for 12:30 p.m. ET/11:30 a.m. CT on FOX.

TEAM NOTES:

Illinois hosted its Senior Night, honoring Matthew Mayer and Terrence Shannon Jr. in a pre-game ceremony at State Farm Center. Managers Jack Born, JC Keller, and Caleb

Miller were also honored.Illinois went 15-2 at home this year and finished on a six-game winning streak at State Farm Center.

The Illini's .882 winning percentage at State Farm Center this season is its best home winning percentage since the 2005-06 season (15-1, .938). 

Illinois won for the 20th time this season, marking four straight 20-win seasons under head coach Brad Underwood. 

This is the 36th 20-win season in Illinois program history. 

This is the first time Illinois has had four straight 20-win seasons since doing so for eight straight seasons from 1999-2000 through 2006-07. 

Illinois has won six in a row over Michigan, its longest streak against the Wolverines since winning 11 straight from Feb. 9, 2000 through Jan. 14, 2006. 

Illinois is the Big Ten's winningest team in league play over the last four years with 55 conference wins. Illinois' 55 Big Ten wins over the last four years are the program's most ever over a four-year stretch.

llinois and Iowa will be the only teams to finish above .500 in Big Ten play each of the last four seasons.

Tonight's 2 OT game tied for the second-longest game in the 105-year, 178-game history of the series between Illinois and Michigan. The longest game in the series was in 1984 when Illinois beat Michigan, 75-66, in four overtimes in Champaign. 

Tonight was the 10th time in the 178-game series history that Illinois and Michigan have played to overtime. Illinois is 5-5 all-time against Michigan in overtime and has won two straight.

Illinois went on a 12-0 run from the 1:38 mark in the first overtime to the 3:43 mark in the second overtime, including a 7-0 run to end the first overtime. 

Illinois had six dunks, all in regulation. It is the Illini's most dunks in Big Ten play this season and one away from the season high of seven, set against Lindenwood and Bethune-Cookman.

Illinois won for the first time in Big Ten play when allowing 70 or more points. The game was tied 70-70 at the end of regulation.

Michigan's Hunter Dickinson missed two free throws with 6:52 left in the second half. It is the ninth time Illinois' McNuggets promotion has hit this season in 17 home games.

Illinois went 8-1 in 2022-23 when the McNuggets promotion hit.  

PLAYER NOTES:

Matthew Mayer had 24 points, two off of his career high (26 at Wisconsin).

Mayer has scored 20+ points seven times this season.

Terrence Shannon Jr. scored 13 of his 21 points at the free-throw line (13-16).

13 makes ties his career high, while 16 attempts marks a career-most.

Shannon has scored 20+ points in a team-leading 10 games this season. 

Ty Rodgers' 14 points is a career-high, eclipsing the 11 he scored vs. Penn State (2/14).

RJ Melendez has scored 10+ points seven times this season.