Illinois Snaps 2-Game Slide with 83-74 Win over Northwestern in Champaign
Illini Outrebound Wildcats 50-27 without Leading Rebounder Tomislav Ivisic
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) — Kylan Boswell scored 17 points and had six rebounds to lead No. 17 Illinois over Northwestern, 83-74, in a Big Ten matchup on Sunday.
Morez Johnson Jr. had 15 points, nine rebounds, and three blocked shots, Ben Humrichous had 14 points, Kasparas Jakucionis had 11 points, 10 rebounds, and seven assists, and Jake Davis added 11 points from the bench for Illinois (14-6, 6-4 Big Ten), which snapped a two-game losing streak.
Nick Martinelli and Jalen Leach each scored 17 points for Northwestern (12-8, 3-6), which trailed 43-21 at halftime. Ty Berry added 10 points.
Illinois, the No. 2 rebounding team in the country, dominated the boards, 50-27, without leading rebounder Tomislav Ivisic, who missed his second straight games due to an illness. The Illini had 21 offensive rebounds.
Takeaways
Illinois: The Illini had lost two straight at home and didn’t play well in either game. They avoided a third consecutive home loss, which hasn’t happened since 2017, with the win, but they were outscored 53-40 in the second half. Illinois committed 13 turnovers in the game that led to 24 Northwestern points.
Northwestern: The Wildcats’ dynamic duo of Martinelli and Brooks Barnhizer average 37 points per game in Big Ten play. They were held to a combined 20 points Sunday, with Martinellli shooting 7-of-19 and Barnhizer 1-of-7. Barnhizer was hurting after taking a hard fall in Northwestern’s last game.
Key moment
Illinois went on a 15-point run early in the first half to break a 5-5 tie and take a 20-5 lead. Northwestern didn’t score for more than five minutes.
Key stat
Northwestern hasn’t won in Champaign since 2013, losing nine straight games.
Up next
Illinois plays Thursday at Nebraska, while Northwestern hosts Rutgers on Wednesday.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Illinois Illini snapped their two-game losing streak with a dominant performance on the boards, outrebounding the Northwestern Wildcats 50-27. Despite a strong performance from the duo of Martinelli and Barnhizer, the Wildcats were held to a combined 20 points and fell to the Illini 83-74.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What was the final score of the game?
A: Illinois won 83-74.
Q: Who were the top scorers for Illinois?
A: Kylan Boswell scored 17 points, Morez Johnson Jr. had 15 points, and Ben Humrichous had 14 points.
Q: Who were the top scorers for Northwestern?
A: Nick Martinelli and Jalen Leach each scored 17 points.
Q: What was the key moment in the game?
A: Illinois went on a 15-point run early in the first half to break a 5-5 tie and take a 20-5 lead.
