IlliniGuys Staff
January 29, 2022
EVANSTON, Ill. - Kofi Cockburn returned from a two-game absence to score a game-high 22 points and Illinois needed a late 8-0 run to put away a pesky Northwestern team 59-56 on Saturday.
The win puts Illinois (15-5, 8-2) back in sole possession of first place in the Big Ten.
The 7-foot preseason Big Ten Player of the Year had missed the Illini's last two games while in concussion protocol following the double-overtime loss to Purdue on January 17th and Illinois needed every point as he was the only player in double figures for the visitors. Pete Nance led Northwestern (9-10, 2-8) with 21 points.
Illinois jumped out to an early 13-4 lead in the opening minutes, keyed by a pair of three-pointers by Trent Frazier. But the super senior wouldn't score again, settling for six points on 2-of-10 shooting from the field.
The Illini offense went cold again for the third straight game and that allowed the Wildcats to rally. They closed the gap to a 24-19 deficit at halftime - their lowest point total in a half this season - before opening the second half on a 15-7 to take a 34-31 lead.
Cockburn kept Illinois in the game, scoring all seven of those early second half points as he accounted for 14 of his points after halftime.
With Frazier struggling offensively and Alfonso Plummer saddled with foul trouble, freshmen R.J. Melendez and Brandin Podziemski provided some clutch offense. Melendez scored six points, including a pair of free throws to allow Illinois to retake the lead at 37-36. Later, he found Podziemski on a backdoor cut for a layup to halt another Northwestern run. The 2021 Mr. Basketball in Wisconsin hit a three-pointer to pull Illinois within two at 51-49 and set up their late game surge.
The Illini took the lead for good on a Da'Monte Williams follow-up dunk to make it 55-53. Cockburn and Plummer then combined to hit 5-of-7 free throws in the final 90 seconds to secure the win.
Northwestern was vying for its first win over a ranked Illinois team since January, 2014 - Chris Collins' first season as Wildcats coach. Instead, they suffer their ninth loss this season by nine points or less.
At 8-2 in conference play, Illinois is actually one game better than they were last year at the same stage. The hard-fought victory sets up another battle for first place Wednesday night at State Farm Center when 11th ranked Wisconsin visits. The Illini swept the season series against the Badgers in 2021. Wisconsin is 7-2 ahead of their Sunday home game with Minnesota.
Stay with IlliniGuys.com for complete postgame coverage and analysis.
Opinions from the Outside Looking In at Illini Football #492
ListenIlliniGuys Top Fighting Illini PFs in our Lifetime, 4-Star 2027 QB Commit & Fantastic Four: First Steps Movie Review - #491
ListenB1G Media Days, Illini Hoops & More - S4Ep50 - 7.25.25
ListenIlliniGuys Top Fighting Illini SFs in our Lifetime - #490
ListenHeat Checks & Hail Marys – Luke Altmyer Poised to Soar Up All-Time Illini QB Rankings & Kofi Part II
ListenNBA Summer League, Illini Recruiting Update, SEC Media Days & More - S4Ep49 - 7.18.25
ListenI on the Illini - Fighting Illini Top 5 SGs & Superman Movie Review #489
ListenIllini in NBA Summer League, New Basketball Hire & Illini Football - S4Ep48 - 7.11.25
ListenI on the Illini - Fighting Illini Top 5 PGs #488
ListenBest of Interviews Episode - 7.4.25 - S4Ep47
ListenIllinois Athletics State of the Union Discussion - #487
ListenWhitman's Illini State of the Nation & the NBA Draft - 6.27.25 - S4Ep46
ListenZach Hamer Illini Asst BB Coach Talks KJ, Will & the NBA Draft - #486
ListenIllini FB Recruiting Update, If Illini FB was a Movie & NIL & NBA Draft "What If" #485
ListenIllini BB International Players & Cearah Parchment the newest IlliniGal - 6.20.25 - S4Ep45
Listen