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Illinois Basketball: 5 biggest games of Ayo Dosunmu’s freshman season

By Rees Woodcock

CHAMPAIGN, IL - DECEMBER 29: The bench erupts in celebration after Illinois Fighting Illini guard Ayo Dosunmu (11) hits a three point shot to tie the game in the final seconds of regulation during the college basketball game between the Florida Atlantic University Owls and the Illinois Fighting Illini on December 29, 2018, at the State Farm Center in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Allio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
CHAMPAIGN, IL - DECEMBER 29: The bench erupts in celebration after Illinois Fighting Illini guard Ayo Dosunmu (11) hits a three point shot to tie the game in the final seconds of regulation during the college basketball game between the Florida Atlantic University Owls and the Illinois Fighting Illini on December 29, 2018, at the State Farm Center in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Allio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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CHAMPAIGN, IL – JANUARY 10: Illinois Fighting Illini guard Ayo Dosunmu (11) and Illinois Fighting Illini forward Kipper Nichols (2) walk across the court during the Big Ten Conference college basketball game between the Michigan Wolverines and the Illinois Fighting Illini on January 10, 2019, at the State Farm Center in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Allio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

No. 5 Illinois vs. Georgetown

There were some big turning point games to the season last year. Illinois was 1-0 going into the Gavitt Tipoff Games against a Georgetown team who had high hopes for the season to come. This was only Ayo’s second game of his young college career, but it was one of his best games.

The toughest part about the game against Georgetown was the fact Illinois was missing Trent Frazier. He was a big part of the team and someone who could score at a high clip. But that didn’t stop the Orange and Blue from competing and almost taking down the Hoyas.

Illinois kept the game close against Georgetown in the first half. It was only a basket with 26-seconds left in the half that gave the Hoyas a 39-37 lead heading into the halftime locker room. The game ended up being close the entire night. Two big free throws by Ayo with 1:54 left in the game put the Illini within one point. Georgetown would end up winning the game 88-80, though.

Despite the loss, Ayo performed well in his second game as a member of the Illini. He finished the night with 25 points, 2 steals, 1 rebound and 1 assist. He shot 60-percent from the field and 75-percent from three-point range. He was 4-of-4 from the charity stripe as well. This game might have been a loss, but we got to see a glimpse of things to come with this kid.

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