LIVE BLOG: FINAL - Illinois 71, Wisconsin 70

Illinois is aiming to halt Wisconsin’s 15-game series win streak, which is the longest ever by an Illini opponent.

Welcome to the Kohl Center where Illinois (10-5, 2-2 in Big Ten Conference) will try to beat Wisconsin in Madison for the first time since 2010.

I'm LOOKING LIVE...at my media spot at the Kohl Center (named after the longtime Wisconsin senator, former Milwaukee Bucks owner and founder of the department stores you used to know and love...you know, before Amazon Prime), as we're about 90 minutes from the opening tip.

NOTE: Please join us as we live-blog and discuss the Illini exhibition game here in our weekly Illini Gameday Open Thread. Dive into the conversation — it's easy — by simply going to the top right of the redesigned site and click the follow button.

You can log in with Facebook or Google and either way, it's free. That's right...IT'S FREE. From there, sound off in the comment section and share your reactions and observations with our staff and fellow members of the Illini Maven/Sports Illustrated community as we keep you up to date of the game in real-time.

--------------

Game 16: Illinois at Wisconsin

Date/Time/Place: Sunday, Jan. 8, 2020: 8 p.m. CST, Kohl Center, Madison, Wisconsin

Capacity: 17,287

Records: Illinois 10-5, 2-2 in Big Ten; 12-21, 7-13 in Big Ten Conference in 2018-19. Wisconsin 9-5, 2-1 in Big Ten; 23-11, 14-6 in Big Ten Conference in 2018-19. 

Line: Wisconsin by 4.5

Series notes: Illinois is aiming to halt Wisconsin’s 15-game series win streak, which is the longest ever by an Illini opponent. The Illini’s last victory in the series was a 69-61 win in Champaign on Jan. 2, 2011. It has been 10 years since the Illini last won at Kohl Center, meanwhile, a 63-56 victory over the 11th-ranked Badgers on Feb. 9, 2010. Reaching 60 points has been an incredible indicator in this series. The first team to score 60 points is 32-1 over the last 15 seasons. The only loss was UW's 71-64 comeback win on Jan. 20, 2007 (ILL led 60-57 with 5:07 left).

TV: BTN - Cory Provus (PBP), Robbie Hummel (analyst), Olivia Harlan-Dekker (Sideline)

Radio (Illinois): Brian Barnhart (PBP), Deon Thomas (analyst) - The broadcast can be heard live on TuneIn online radio, Sirius/XM 385 and at FightingIllini.com.

----------------

While we wait for pre-game updates, here's a look at the three keys and Matthew Stevens' prediction for tonight's game.  

---------------

Only one other Big Ten Conference game on tap tonight: 

IN PROGRESS - Northwestern (5-8, 0-3) at Indiana (11-3, 1-2) - BTN

---------------

Uniform Update: Illinois looks to be in the all navy with the orange trim and numbers. Wisconsin appears to go with the all white uniforms with red trim and numbers. 

------------

7:30 p.m. UPDATE - Your game officials tonight are: D.J. Carstensen, Larry Scirotto and Eric Curry. Or as Illinois fans refer to them: Not Bo Boroski, Not Bo Boroski and Not Boroski. 

-----------

7:45 p.m. - UPDATE - Illinois going with its normal starting lineup: Ayo Dosunmu, Trent Frazier, Da'Monte Williams, Giorgi Bezhanishvili and Kofi Cockburn. 

------------------

UPDATE: Not sure if she gets double pay tonight but Olivia Dekker will be a sideline reporter for BTN and did a great rendition of the national anthem. 

--------------------

MEDIA TIMEOUT - 15:48 left in 1st - Wisconsin 6, Illinois 2 - Wisconsin doing a great early job of using Reuvers to pull Cockburn away from the basket before they ever start a set action so the Illini's only reliable rim protector is 20 feet from the basket.

Wisconsin doing a great job of executing Kobe King post-ups for two early baskets. Illini finding contested runners and jumpers (1 of 6 early).

-------------

MEDIA TIMEOUT - 11:34 left in 1st - Illinois 11, Wisconsin 10 - Officials calling a tight game so far as Wisconsin already in the bonus. After starting out 1 of 6, Illini have made four of its last five attempts and have six points in the paint. 

------------

MEDIA TIMEOUT - 6:27 left in 1st - Illinois 20, Wisconsin 19 - Ayo leading all scorers with six, mostly coming in transition opportunities. However, Wisconsin is 4 of 4 from the line and will get a chance at a 1-on-1 after the break. 

--------------

MEDIA TIMEOUT - 3:39 left in 1st - Wisconsin 28, Illinois 21 - Badgers on a 7-0 run over the last 97 seconds. Illinois doesn't have a field goal for the last 3:20 and has made 2 of 10. Badgers being led by Potter's seven points and four rebounds off the bench. 

---------------

ILLINI TIMEOUT - 53.9 left in 1st - Wisconsin 32, Illinois 25 - Badgers shooting 48 percent and 8 of 8 from the foul line. Illini have 11 field goals and 10 fouls (and this is a team that doesn't typically foul). 

---------------

HALFTIME - Wisconsin 32, Illinois 27 - Feliz ends the half with a foul and a free throw but Illini lucky to be down just five. Potter has 11 points and five rebounds in 10 minutes off the bench.

Ayo has been aggressive with the ball tonight but Illinois finding open looks tough to come by (12 of 31). 

Wisconsin...where the stat sheet is always deceiving. 

If I told you after 20 minutes that Illini would lead UW in points in the paint, second-chance points and had only four turnovers, wouldn't you think they'd be ahead? 

-------------

MEDIA TIMEOUT - 15:18 left - Wisconsin 43, Illinois 39 - Wisconsin guard Kobe King can't miss and he's already abused three Illini wings (Williams, Griffin sort of and Feliz). 

--------------

MEDIA TIMEOUT - 11:30 left - Wisconsin 52, Illinois 47 - Ayo Dosunmu leads the Illini with 13 points but it doesn't feel he's getting enough touches. Wisconsin is 7 of 11 in this half. 

---------------

MEDIA TIMEOUT - 7:40 left - Wisconsin 57, Illinois 54 - Illini are 6 of 18 on layups tonight. Cockburn with 14 points but he's on the bench with four fouls. 

------------

ILLINI TIMEOUT - 4:13 left - Wisconsin 63, Illinois 60 - Griffin nails a 3-pointer before Underwood calls time. Illini are 8 of 14 from the foul line tonight. King has 18 points for the home team. 

-------------

ILLINI TIMEOUT - 2:00 left - Wisconsin 65, Illinois 63 - Illinois had the game tied for a few seconds. Underwood wants to draw up a set on this critical possession. 

----------

UW TIMEOUT - 1:39 left - Illinois 66, Wisconsin 65 - Illinois takes its first lead since