CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) - Illinois used double-figure scoring from five players to hold off stubborn Nebraska Saturday, 72-65.
The Huskers led 57-55 with just over 6 minutes to play. But the Illini (21-9, 8-8 Big Ten) went on a 7-0 run started by a 3-pointer from D.J. Richardson to go up 62-57. They never trailed again.
Tracy Abrams led Illinois with 16 points. Brandon Paul had 14 and Richardson, Myke Henry and Nnanna Egwu also scored in double figures.
Nebraska (13-16, 4-12) was led by 23 points from Ray Gallegos and 20 by Dylan Talley.
The win helps build Illinois' NCAA tournament case with two regular-seasons games left. The Illini play at Iowa Tuesday and at No. 16 Ohio State March 10.
| Scoreboard | |||
| Final | 1 | 2 | T |
| Nebraska (13-16) | 32 | 33 | 65 |
| Illinois (21-9) « | 35 | 37 | 72 |
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| Nebraska Cornhuskers | |||||||
| STARTERS | M | FG | FT | TR | A | PF | PTS |
| B. Ubel, F | 40 | 3-7 | 0-0 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 6 |
| R. Gallegos, G | 40 | 8-19 | 1-2 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 23 |
| D. Talley, G | 40 | 7-15 | 4-4 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 20 |
| D. Rivers, G | 35 | 3-8 | 1-2 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 7 |
| S. Shields, G | 34 | 4-5 | 0-1 | 5 | 2 | 4 | 9 |
| BENCH | M | FG | FT | TR | A | PF | PTS |
| B. Parker | 10 | 0-1 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| J. Tyrance | 1 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Totals | 25-55 | 6-9 | 26 | 11 | 14 | 65 | |
| 45.5% | 66.7% | ||||||
| Illinois Fighting Illini | |||||||
| STARTERS | M | FG | FT | TR | A | PF | PTS |
| T. Griffey, F | 18 | 1-4 | 0-0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
| S. McLaurin, F | 8 | 0-0 | 2-4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| B. Paul, G | 37 | 6-14 | 1-2 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 14 |
| D. Richardson, G | 32 | 4-9 | 2-2 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 13 |
| J. Bertrand, G | 22 | 1-3 | 0-0 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| BENCH | M | FG | FT | TR | A | PF | PTS |
| T. Abrams | 29 | 4-11 | 6-6 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 16 |
| N. Egwu | 28 | 4-6 | 2-2 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 10 |
| M. Henry | 26 | 4-8 | 2-2 | 9 | 1 | 3 | 12 |
| K. Berardini | 0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Totals | 24-55 | 15-18 | 35 | 10 | 12 | 72 | |
| 43.6% | 83.3% | ||||||
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