By IlliniGuys Staff

March 17, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

MINNEAPOLIS, Mn. - Terrence Shannon Jr. delivered a game-high 34 points to grab tournament MVP honors and Marcus Domask added 26 as #13 Illinois defeated Wisconsin, 93-87 to win the 2024 Big Ten Tournament championship.

Shannon, who scored a Big Ten tournament record 40 points in the semifinal win over Nebraska on Saturday, came alive after a slow start.  The All-Big Ten first teamer scored 13 of his team-high 15 points in the final eight and a half minutes of the first half as the Illini sat atop the Badgers 41-40 at halftime.

Wisconsin stormed back to take a 10-point lead at 61-51 with 14:38, but Illinois has proven in this tournament that double-digit second half deficits mean little.  In the spirit of their comeback from 15 points down against Nebraska a day earlier, Illinois went on a 19-4 run to take a 70-65 advantage.

Max Klesmit hit a three-pointer to tie the game at 85 with 1:49 left, but the Illinois defense did not allow another field goal the rest of the way.  Meanwhile, Shannon drained a three-pointer and three free throws to put Illinois ahead to stay at 91-85.

Shannon scored 102 points in three games to miss the tournament record of 103 set by Keegan Murray of Iowa in 2022.

Domask scored 31 points in his lone game in Madison last month to lead the Illini to a win and flexed his muscles again in the closing minutes, scoring 17 of his 26 points after halftime.  He also added eight assists and seven rebounds.

Illinois (26-8) has won eight straight over the Badgers and now has its biggest win total since going 26-7 in 2005-06.

Wisconsin led by Rockford native AJ Storr's 24 points as they finish 22-13 on the season and awaits its NCAA tournament assignment.

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