IlliniGuys Staff

February 5, 2022

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Trent Frazier scored a game-high 23 points and keyed a 16-3 second half run as 18th ranked Illinois defeated Indiana 74-57 Saturday afternoon.

The win guarantees that the Illini (17-5, 10-2) will be in sole possession of first place when they visit 4th ranked Purdue Tuesday night.

Illinois fell behind by as much as eight points in the first half against a determined Hoosiers squad that built the lead despite star player Trayce Jackson-Davis playing just four scoreless minutes due to foul trouble.  But the Illini clawed their way back to within two at halftime, 36-34.

It remained a close game in the second half until Illinois caught fire.  Jacob Grandison hit a pair of three-pointers to give the Illini a 48-46 advantage as they took the lead for good.

Kofi Cockburn scored 12 of his 17 points in the second half, ten of them coming after the Grandison treys.  Frazier scored 14 after halftime and led a defensive effort that allowed Indiana just 21 second-half points.  The Hoosiers hit just four field goals in the final 13 minutes of the game.

Alfonso Plummer added 14 points for Illinois.  Race Thompson led Indiana (16-6, 7-5) with 13 points.  Jackson-Davis finished with just six points on 3-of-9 shooting and six rebounds.

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