Illinois Basketball: Illini outlast Michigan in double-overtime thriller

Illinois basketball improved to 6-0 against Juwan Howard-led Michigan Wolverines teams.

After a demoralizing loss to Ohio State on Sunday, the Illini looked to ring in State Farm Center’s 60th birthday in style.

In so many words, the lone regular-season meeting between Illinois and Michigan was an instant classic. Thursday night’s tilt saw the Illini rally from a seven-point double-overtime deficit to dent the Wolverines’ NCAA Tournament hopes, 91-87.

Matthew Mayer was a late addition to practice this week because of a self-imposed “caffeine poisoning.” Despite his mini-illness, he had another legendary performance. 24 of the Illini’s 91 points came from Mayer, including several huge shots down the stretch to propel his team to a win.

The first half was anything but electric, though. Senior Night has been a magical stage for the Illini in years past. Little did anyone know what March 2, 2023, would bring as the game went on.

The Illini only led for one minute, as Wolverines pushed the pace and gave the Orange and Blue all they could handle. In Hunter Dickinson’s first game in Champaign, he accounted for 31 points, including a four-point cushion for the Wolverines, 27-23, at the 6:45 mark of the opening frame. However, Illinois struggled to match the Wolverines, only shooting 2-for-8 from long range.

Illinois went into the locker room ahead 33-31, which was capped off by a highlight-reel dunk from Ty Rodgers. Rodgers finished the first half with six points, and his dunk will live in State Farm Center lore for years.

For the next 60 or so minutes, chaos ensued. The Illini controlled the second half for the vast majority, as they shot 50% from three-point range, including a near-perfect 15-of-16 from the free-throw line.

Despite the impressive numbers and a half-leading 10 points from RJ Melendez, the Wolverines, who were fighting for their tournament lives, rallied back from a nine-point deficit to force overtime, evening the score at 70 apiece.

The initial extra session saw both teams trade baskets, but neither could get away from the other to create the game’s eventual deciding factor, as they drew 11-11, forcing a second session.

Thankfully, Illinois was able to hold off the Wolverines behind 12 offensive rebounds and 76.8% from the foul line, including the icing on the cake from Terrence Shannon Jr., who finished with 44 minutes of on-court time in the season finale.

Brad Underwood spoke on what earning 20 wins or more for the fourth-straight season means for the program moving forward.

"“Consistency,” Underwood said after the win.  “Great programs have consistency. …I’ll be honest with you, this year means a little more .. to keep our culture.”"

Illinois basketball has one more game before the Big Ten Tournament

Sunday, the Illini will travel to West Lafayette, Indiana, to take on the Big Ten regular season champion Purdue Boilermakers, who clinched the conference title with a road win against Wisconsin later in the evening on Thursday.

The Boilermakers are led by Zach Edey, as they claimed the nation’s top spot in mid-February on their way to reigning supreme in the Big Ten.

Tip-off is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. CT on FOX, as the Illini will look to move one step closer to a potential Big Ten Tournament double-bye next week.