LIVE BLOG: FINAL - Illinois 71, No. 5 Michigan 62
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Welcome once again to the State Farm Center where Illinois (6-3, 0-1 in Big Ten Conference) will host No. 5 Michigan (8-1, 1-0) in this Big Ten Conference game
I'm LOOKING LIVE...at the State Farm Center media room in Champaign, Ill., as we're about an hour from the opening tip.
NOTE: Please join us as we live-blog and discuss the Illini 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.
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Game 10: No. 5 Michigan at Illinois
Date/Time/Place: Monday, Dec. 11, 2019: 8 p.m. CST, State Farm Center in Champaign, Ill.
Capacity: 16,618
Records: Michigan 8-1, 1-0 in Big Ten Conference; 30-7, 15-5 in Big Ten in 2018-19. Illinois 6-3, 0-1 in Big Ten; 12-21, 7-13 in Big Ten in 2018-19.
Line: Illinois by 1.5
Series notes: Illinois leads all-time series 87-85 but Michigan has won the last four meetings. Illinois holds a 57-28 record in Champaign against Michigan, however, U-M has won five of their last seven. Michigan holds a 5-2 record in neutral-site games with six of the seven played at the Big Ten Tournament. The other was an 83-81 win in the 1989 Final Four, where the Wolverines went on to win its first national title. There have been 31 games decided by three points or fewer with Michigan leading, 18-13. The last time a game was decided by fewer than three points was when Michigan knocked off Illinois at the 2014 Big Ten Tournament, 64-63, on March 14, 2014. The Wolverines moved on that year to the championship game, losing to Michigan State.
TV: BTN; Kevin Kugler (PBP), Robbie Hummel (analyst)
Radio (Illinois): Brian Barnhart (PBP), Doug Altenberger (analyst). The broadcast can be heard live on TuneIn online radio, Sirius/XM 372 and at FightingIllini.com.
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Here is the league's lineup of games for tonight:
Rutgers (6-3, 0-1) at Wisconsin (5-4, 1-0) IN PROGRESS - BTN
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While we wait for pre-game updates, here's a look at the three keys and Matthew Stevens' prediction for tonight's game.
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Uniform Update: Illinois appears to be in all orange tonight (jerseys and shorts). Michigan will be in their road blues.
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Remember folks...this is the first home game Tevian Jones is active this season. He was reinstated from his suspension to the active roster for games before the Maryland game last weekend and is in uniform tonight as well.
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Your officials for tonight's No. 5 Michigan/Illinois game: Bo Boroski, Keith Kimble, Lewis Garrison.
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FIRST HALF
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MEDIA TIMEOUT: 13:58 left in 1st - No. 5 Michigan 13, Illinois 10 - Michigan is just attacking Kofi Cockburn constantly either with post touches or pick-and-roll action. Wolverines shooting 6 of 8. Ayo and Giorgi with four points.
MEDIA TIMEOUT: 9:57 left in 1st - No. 5 Michigan 17, Illinois 16 - The level of offensive execution is very high right now by both teams and it's not because neither team can defend well.
Illinois is 0 for 4 from 3-point range and only down one. Michigan forward Jon Teske already with seven points.
MEDIA TIMEOUT: 7:22 left in 1st - Illinois 22, No. 5 Michigan 17 - Illini on a 6-0 run over last 2:13. Illinois already with seven offensive rebounds. Michigan is 1 of 6 from 3-point range.
MEDIA TIMEOUT: 3:12 left in 1st - Illinois 26, No. 5 Michigan 26 - Illinois has gone nearly 17 minutes without a 3-pointer and the game is tied. Feliz's speed and ability to get to the rim in transition showing up with eight points.
MICHIGAN TIMEOUT: 33.7 left in 1st - Illinois 30, No. 5 Michigan 28 - Example there of Phil Martelli's value. He was screaming at Howard to call a timeout there and get something set up.
ILLINOIS TIMEOUT: 17.3 left in 1st - Illinois 30, No. 5 Michigan 28 - Lots of dribble penetration for Illini. How do I know this? Two assists on 15 made field goals.
HALFTIME - Illinois 30, Michigan 28 - Illinois goes through the first half without a 3-point field goal. Illini with eight offensive rebounds. Nobody with a double-digit scoring half.
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MEDIA TIMEOUT: 15:48 left: Illinois 38, No. 5 Michigan 34 - Ayo has come out of this half aggressive (two points and two assists already).
MEDIA TIMEOUT: 11:59 left: Illinois 48, No. 5 Michigan 40 - Illinois has made a 3-pointer so the long-waited nightmare is over. Kofi Cockburn has 10 points and six rebounds. Michigan is 5 of 11 from the field and being outscored 18-12 in this half.
MEDIA TIMEOUT: 7:54 left: Illinois 54, No. 5 Michigan 48 - Michigan guard Zavier Simpson is 1 of 7 from the field in this half. Underwood and company (with the help of Kofi Cockburn) have found a way to guard him tonight.
MICHIGAN TIMEOUT: 5:58 left: Illinois 58, No. 5 Michigan 48 - Giorgi with a one-handed dunk that energizes the State Farm Center. Four Illini in double figures tonight. Michigan hasn't scored for last 2:22.
MEDIA TIMEOUT: 3:14 left: Illinois 66, No. 5 Michigan 54 - Kofi attacks the offensive glass and gets a possible and-one. Cockburn has 18 points and nine rebounds tonight.
ILLINI TIMEOUT: 2:08 left: Illinois 66, No. 5 Michigan 61 - Michigan on a quick 7-0 over the last 56 seconds.