ILL

NWEST

Cockburn leads No. 12 Illinois past Northwestern 81-56

AP
Jan 08, 2021

EVANSTON, Ill. (AP) Illinois Fighting Illini coach Brad Underwood went to talk to his team at halftime and saw exactly what he needed to see.

The 12th-ranked Illini were angry and disappointed - and they took it out on Northwestern Wildcats.

Kofi Cockburn scored 13 of his 18 points in the second half, and Illinois rallied to beat the overwhelmed Wildcats 81-56 on Thursday night.

''This team has a fight and a competitiveness that I love,'' Underwood said.

That was on full display during a historic second half. Illinois (9-3, 5-1 Big Ten) outscored Northwestern 53-13 after it trailed by 15 at the break. The Illini limited the Wildcats to just two field goals and forced nine turnovers in the final 20 minutes of their biggest victory at Northwestern since a 63-30 blowout on Feb. 19, 2000.

According to STATS, Illinois became the first team to outscore a major conference opponent by at least 40 points in a single half since Kentucky outscored Vanderbilt by 43 in the second half of a 106-44 win on March 5, 2003. The Illini are the only Division I team in the last 25 seasons to trail by at least 15 points at halftime and come back to win by 20 or more.

''I've never been (a part) of anything like that,'' Cockburn said. ''You saw it, man. You saw how we reacted to it. I was in awe. Just being on the floor, watching it happen, being a part of it, it was a really good feeling.''

Cockburn went 8 for 9 from the field in his eighth double-double of the season, asserting himself in the middle after Illinois got off to a rough start. Ayo Dosunmu added 15 points, and Trent Frazier and Adam Miller each scored 14.

Illinois trailed by as many as 16 - it was so ugly that Underwood yelled ''What are we doing?'' at his team during a first-half timeout - before completely overpowering Northwestern (6-4, 3-3) in its fourth straight win.

Robbie Beran scored 11 points for the Wildcats in their third consecutive loss.

''To only score 13 points and have a couple field goals (in the second half), we just have to play better,'' coach Chris Collins said.

Northwestern closed the first half with a 12-1 run for a 43-28 lead. But the Wildcats looked tired down the stretch of their fourth straight game against a Top 25 team.

After a 3-pointer by Beran made it 48-41 with 14:19 left, the Illini grabbed control with a 25-2 run. Miller capped the decisive stretch with a 3 that made it 66-50 with 5:36 remaining.

''We came together,'' Cockburn said. ''We didn't hold our head down. We didn't sulk about anything. ... We just came out there and we swung back.''

WORTH WATCHING

Illinois senior Da'Monte Williams tweaked an ankle injury that Underwood said has been bothering him for about a month. Williams finished with six points on 2-for-5 shooting in 23 minutes.

''I don't know the severity of it,'' Underwood said. ''After we walked out of the locker room, he said he felt good.''

BIG PICTURE

Illinois: The Illini earned their fifth straight win in the series against the Wildcats. Once Cockburn got going inside, it was all over.

Northwestern: The Wildcats just fell apart in the second half. They shot 33% (18 for 55) for the game.

UP NEXT

Illinois: Hosts Maryland on Sunday night.

Northwestern: Visits Ohio State on Wednesday. The Wildcats beat the Buckeyes 71-70 on Dec. 26.

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Jay Cohen can be reached at https://twitter.com/jcohenap

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More AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball and https://twitter.com/AP-Top25

1st Half
ILL
Fighting Illini
28
NW
Wildcats
43

Time		Play	Score
20:00		Kofi Cockburn vs. Pete Nance (Adam Miller gains possession)
19:46		Kofi Cockburn turnover (lost ball) (Chase Audige steals)
19:44		Ayo Dosunmu personal foul (Chase Audige draws the foul)
19:42		Miller Kopp misses two point jump shot
19:40		Kofi Cockburn defensive rebound
19:27		Chase Audige shooting foul (Kofi Cockburn draws the foul)
19:27	+1	Kofi Cockburn makes regular free throw 1 of 2	1-0
19:27		Kofi Cockburn misses regular free throw 2 of 2
19:27		Chase Audige defensive rebound
19:11		Pete Nance misses three point jump shot
19:09		Ayo Dosunmu defensive rebound
19:01		Trent Frazier misses three point jump shot
18:59		Robbie Beran defensive rebound
18:56		Boo Buie turnover (out of bounds)
18:41		Kofi Cockburn misses two point layup
18:39		Pete Nance defensive rebound
18:36		Chase Audige misses three point jump shot
18:34		Fighting Illini defensive rebound
18:22	+3	Trent Frazier makes three point jump shot (Ayo Dosunmu assists)	4-0
18:05		Boo Buie misses two point jump shot
18:03		Ayo Dosunmu defensive rebound
17:44		Adam Miller misses three point jump shot
17:42		Kofi Cockburn offensive rebound
17:37	+2	Kofi Cockburn makes two point layup	6-0
17:23	+2	Pete Nance makes two point alley-oop dunk (Chase Audige assists)	6-2
17:03		Da'Monte Williams turnover (out of bounds)
16:51		Kofi Cockburn personal foul (Pete Nance draws the foul)
16:37		Boo Buie misses two point jump shot
16:35		Andre Curbelo defensive rebound
16:25		Boo Buie personal foul (Ayo Dosunmu draws the foul)
16:12	+2	Giorgi Bezhanishvili makes two point hook shot (Andre Curbelo assists)	8-2
15:59	+2	Ryan Young makes two point layup	8-4
15:46		Da'Monte Williams misses three point jump shot
15:44		Ryan Greer defensive rebound
15:39		Andre Curbelo blocks Robbie Beran's two point layup
15:37		Andre Curbelo defensive rebound
15:31	+2	Ayo Dosunmu makes two point layup (Andre Curbelo assists)	10-4
15:11	+2	Chase Audige makes two point driving layup (Robbie Beran assists)	10-6
14:51	+2	Andre Curbelo makes two point floating jump shot	12-6
14:50		TV timeout
14:40		Andre Curbelo shooting foul (Miller Kopp draws the foul)
14:40	+1	Miller Kopp makes regular free throw 1 of 3	12-7
14:40		Miller Kopp misses regular free throw 2 of 3
14:40	+1	Miller Kopp makes regular free throw 3 of 3	12-8
14:22		Adam Miller misses three point jump shot
14:20		Giorgi Bezhanishvili offensive rebound
14:07		Andre Curbelo turnover (traveling)
13:55	+2	Miller Kopp makes two point jump shot	12-10
13:30		Ryan Young shooting foul (Coleman Hawkins draws the foul)
13:30	+1	Coleman Hawkins makes regular free throw 1 of 2	13-10
13:30		Coleman Hawkins misses regular free throw 2 of 2
13:30		Ryan Young defensive rebound
13:09	+2	Ryan Greer makes two point floating jump shot	13-12
12:55		Ayo Dosunmu misses two point layup
12:55		Wildcats defensive rebound
12:39	+3	Anthony Gaines makes three point jump shot (Ryan Young assists)	13-15
12:31		Ryan Young personal foul (Kofi Cockburn draws the foul)
12:24		Ayo Dosunmu misses two point jump shot
12:22		Wildcats defensive rebound
12:10		Pete Nance offensive foul (Andre Curbelo draws the foul)
12:10		Pete Nance turnover
11:46		Chase Audige shooting foul (Ayo Dosunmu draws the foul)
11:46		TV timeout
11:46	+1	Ayo Dosunmu makes regular free throw 1 of 2	14-15
11:46	+1	Ayo Dosunmu makes regular free throw 2 of 2	15-15
11:32		Trent Frazier personal foul (Boo Buie draws the foul)
11:32		Da'Monte Williams shooting foul (Robbie Beran draws the foul)
11:32	+1	Robbie Beran makes regular free throw 1 of 2	15-16
11:32	+1	Robbie Beran makes regular free throw 2 of 2	15-17
11:20	+2	Kofi Cockburn makes two point dunk (Andre Curbelo assists)	17-17
10:51		Pete Nance misses three point jump shot
10:49		Da'Monte Williams defensive rebound
10:37		Trent Frazier turnover (bad pass) (Ty Berry steals)
10:33	+2	Anthony Gaines makes two point dunk (Ty Berry assists)	17-19
10:22		Ayo Dosunmu turnover (bad pass) (Pete Nance steals)
9:59		Pete Nance misses two point jump shot
9:59		Da'Monte Williams defensive rebound
9:59		Boo Buie shooting foul (Andre Curbelo draws the foul)
9:59	+1	Andre Curbelo makes regular free throw 1 of 2	18-19
9:59	+1	Andre Curbelo makes regular free throw 2 of 2	19-19
9:42	+3	Pete Nance makes three point jump shot (Ryan Greer assists)	19-22
9:33		Trent Frazier turnover (bad pass)
9:21		Ayo Dosunmu shooting foul (Robbie Beran draws the foul)
9:21		Robbie Beran misses regular free throw 1 of 2
9:21	+1	Robbie Beran makes regular free throw 2 of 2	19-23
8:54		Andre Curbelo misses two point layup
8:52		Fighting Illini offensive rebound
8:40	+3	Adam Miller makes three point jump shot (Andre Curbelo assists)	22-23
8:19	+2	Pete Nance makes two point layup (Robbie Beran assists)	22-25
8:08		Andre Curbelo turnover (bad pass) (Pete Nance steals)
7:40		Robbie Beran misses three point jump shot
7:38		Giorgi Bezhanishvili defensive rebound
7:14		Trent Frazier misses three point jump shot
7:12		Robbie Beran defensive rebound
6:51	+3	Robbie Beran makes three point jump shot (Pete Nance assists)	22-28
6:22		Robbie Beran personal foul (Trent Frazier draws the foul)
6:22		TV timeout
6:23	+1	Trent Frazier makes regular free throw 1 of 2	23-28
6:23	+1	Trent Frazier makes regular free throw 2 of 2	24-28
6:13		Anthony Gaines turnover (lost ball) (Andre Curbelo steals)
6:08		Andre Curbelo misses two point reverse layup
6:06		Wildcats defensive rebound
5:52		Ryan Young turnover (bad pass)
5:41		Adam Miller misses three point jump shot
5:39		Ryan Young defensive rebound
5:24	+3	Ryan Young makes three point jump shot (Pete Nance assists)	24-31
5:08	+3	Adam Miller makes three point jump shot (Andre Curbelo assists)	27-31
4:55		Pete Nance misses three point jump shot
4:53		Anthony Gaines offensive rebound
4:38		Ryan Greer misses two point jump shot
4:36		Da'Monte Williams defensive rebound
4:26		Da'Monte Williams turnover (bad pass) (Ryan Young steals)
4:13		Pete Nance misses two point hook shot
4:11		Ryan Young offensive rebound
4:04	+2	Ryan Young makes two point layup	27-33
3:38		Andre Curbelo misses three point jump shot
3:36		Anthony Gaines defensive rebound
3:32	+2	Anthony Gaines makes two point layup	27-35
3:32		Andre Curbelo shooting foul (Anthony Gaines draws the foul)
3:32		TV timeout
3:32	+1	Anthony Gaines makes regular free throw 1 of 1	27-36
3:09		Giorgi Bezhanishvili turnover (traveling)
3:10		Fighting Illini 30 second timeout
2:54	+3	Ty Berry makes three point jump shot (Robbie Beran assists)	27-39
2:46		Ayo Dosunmu turnover (bad pass) (Ty Berry steals)
2:38	+2	Ty Berry makes two point layup (Anthony Gaines assists)	27-41
2:31		Trent Frazier misses three point jump shot
2:29		Robbie Beran defensive rebound
2:00		Ty Berry misses three point jump shot
1:58		Anthony Gaines offensive rebound
1:37	+2	Miller Kopp makes two point layup (Robbie Beran assists)	27-43
1:20		Adam Miller misses three point jump shot
1:18		Ty Berry defensive rebound
0:59		Robbie Beran misses three point jump shot
0:57		Trent Frazier defensive rebound
0:54		Ty Berry shooting foul (Giorgi Bezhanishvili draws the foul)
0:54	+1	Giorgi Bezhanishvili makes regular free throw 1 of 2	28-43
0:54		Giorgi Bezhanishvili misses regular free throw 2 of 2
0:54		Da'Monte Williams offensive rebound
0:42		Giorgi Bezhanishvili turnover (lost ball) (Miller Kopp steals)
0:25		Pete Nance misses three point jump shot
0:23		Adam Miller defensive rebound
0:03		Trent Frazier misses three point jump shot
0:01		Pete Nance defensive rebound
0:00		End of period

2nd Half
ILL
Fighting Illini
53
NW
Wildcats
13

Time		Play	Score
19:41		Boo Buie offensive foul (Da'Monte Williams draws the foul)
19:41		Boo Buie turnover
19:26	+3	Trent Frazier makes three point jump shot (Ayo Dosunmu assists)	31-43
19:03		Chase Audige misses two point jump shot
19:01		Kofi Cockburn defensive rebound
18:50		Da'Monte Williams misses three point jump shot
18:48		Kofi Cockburn offensive rebound
18:48	+2	Kofi Cockburn makes two point putback layup	33-43
18:48		Miller Kopp shooting foul (Kofi Cockburn draws the foul)
18:48	+1	Kofi Cockburn makes regular free throw 1 of 1	34-43
18:39		Pete Nance misses two point jump shot
18:37		Trent Frazier defensive rebound
18:23	+2	Ayo Dosunmu makes two point jump shot	36-43
18:23		Wildcats 60 second timeout
18:23		TV timeout
18:08		Kofi Cockburn shooting foul (Pete Nance draws the foul)
18:08	+1	Pete Nance makes regular free throw 1 of 2	36-44
18:08	+1	Pete Nance makes regular free throw 2 of 2	36-45
17:42	+2	Adam Miller makes two point layup (Da'Monte Williams assists)	38-45
17:35		Miller Kopp turnover (out of bounds)
17:13		Da'Monte Williams misses two point layup
17:11		Chase Audige defensive rebound
17:02		Chase Audige turnover (traveling)
16:42		Adam Miller misses three point jump shot
16:40		Ryan Greer defensive rebound
16:30		Chase Audige turnover (bad pass) (Jacob Grandison steals)
16:23		Ayo Dosunmu misses three point jump shot
16:21		Ryan Greer defensive rebound
16:00		Ryan Greer misses two point jump shot
15:58		Kofi Cockburn defensive rebound
15:44		Ayo Dosunmu misses two point jump shot
15:42		Robbie Beran defensive rebound
15:20		Adam Miller personal foul
15:20		TV timeout
15:01		Boo Buie misses two point jump shot
14:59		Ryan Young offensive rebound
14:59		Giorgi Bezhanishvili blocks Ryan Young's two point layup
14:59		Fighting Illini defensive rebound
14:42		Andre Curbelo misses two point jump shot
14:40		Jacob Grandison offensive rebound
14:32	+3	Trent Frazier makes three point jump shot (Jacob Grandison assists)	41-45
14:20	+3	Robbie Beran makes three point jump shot (Ryan Young assists)	41-48
14:11		Boo Buie shooting foul (Trent Frazier draws the foul)
14:11	+1	Trent Frazier makes regular free throw 1 of 3	42-48
14:11	+1	Trent Frazier makes regular free throw 2 of 3	43-48
14:11	+1	Trent Frazier makes regular free throw 3 of 3	44-48
13:58		Miller Kopp misses two point jump shot
13:56		Andre Curbelo defensive rebound
13:49		Andre Curbelo turnover (lost ball) (Ryan Young steals)
13:36		Miller Kopp turnover (bad pass) (Jacob Grandison steals)
13:30	+3	Jacob Grandison makes three point jump shot (Andre Curbelo assists)	47-48
12:59		Andre Curbelo personal foul
12:52		Ryan Young turnover (traveling)
12:29	+2	Kofi Cockburn makes two point layup (Ayo Dosunmu assists)	49-48
12:15		Ryan Young misses two point layup
12:13		Jacob Grandison defensive rebound
12:07		Adam Miller misses three point jump shot
12:05		Kofi Cockburn offensive rebound
12:00	+2	Kofi Cockburn makes two point putback layup	51-48
11:39		Chase Audige misses two point jump shot
11:37		Kofi Cockburn defensive rebound
11:20		Trent Frazier misses two point jump shot
11:18		Kofi Cockburn offensive rebound
11:15	+2	Kofi Cockburn makes two point putback layup	53-48
11:15		Anthony Gaines shooting foul (Kofi Cockburn draws the foul)
11:15		TV timeout
11:15		Kofi Cockburn misses regular free throw 1 of 1
11:15		Chase Audige defensive rebound
11:01		Kofi Cockburn blocks Chase Audige's two point layup
10:59		Pete Nance offensive rebound
10:51		Pete Nance misses two point jump shot
10:49		Andre Curbelo defensive rebound
10:40		Ayo Dosunmu turnover (bad pass) (Chase Audige steals)
10:26		Chase Audige misses two point jump shot
10:24		Kofi Cockburn defensive rebound
10:04		Ayo Dosunmu turnover (bad pass) (Ty Berry steals)
9:47		Chase Audige misses three point jump shot
9:45		Da'Monte Williams defensive rebound
9:15		Andre Curbelo misses two point layup
9:13		Anthony Gaines defensive rebound
9:06		Kofi Cockburn blocks Anthony Gaines's two point layup
9:04		Wildcats offensive rebound
8:58		Pete Nance turnover (traveling)
8:35	+3	Da'Monte Williams makes three point jump shot (Trent Frazier assists)	56-48
8:24		Adam Miller personal foul
8:06		Robbie Beran turnover (bad pass)
7:57		Miller Kopp shooting foul (Ayo Dosunmu draws the foul)
7:57		TV timeout
7:57	+1	Ayo Dosunmu makes regular free throw 1 of 2	57-48
7:57	+1	Ayo Dosunmu makes regular free throw 2 of 2	58-48
7:50		Andre Curbelo personal foul
7:36		Trent Frazier personal foul
7:32	+2	Robbie Beran makes two point layup (Boo Buie assists)	58-50
7:12	+3	Da'Monte Williams makes three point jump shot (Ayo Dosunmu assists)	61-50
6:50		Boo Buie misses three point jump shot
6:48		Ayo Dosunmu defensive rebound
6:39	+2	Ayo Dosunmu makes two point layup	63-50
6:23		Pete Nance misses three point jump shot
6:21		Kofi Cockburn defensive rebound
6:13		Adam Miller misses three point jump shot
6:11		Da'Monte Williams offensive rebound
6:01		Trent Frazier misses three point jump shot
5:59		Robbie Beran defensive rebound
5:55		Trent Frazier shooting foul (Chase Audige draws the foul)
5:55		Chase Audige misses regular free throw 1 of 2
5:55		Chase Audige misses regular free throw 2 of 2
5:55		Chase Audige misses regular free throw 2 of 2
5:55		Ayo Dosunmu defensive rebound
5:38	+3	Adam Miller makes three point jump shot (Trent Frazier assists)	66-50
5:21		Jacob Grandison shooting foul (Chase Audige draws the foul)
5:21	+1	Chase Audige makes regular free throw 1 of 2	66-51
5:21	+1	Chase Audige makes regular free throw 2 of 2	66-52
5:10	+2	Kofi Cockburn makes two point hook shot (Ayo Dosunmu assists)	68-52
4:53		Kofi Cockburn personal foul (Ryan Young draws the foul)
4:53	+1	Ryan Young makes regular free throw 1 of 2	68-53
4:53	+1	Ryan Young makes regular free throw 2 of 2	68-54
4:44	+2	Ayo Dosunmu makes two point jump shot (Trent Frazier assists)	70-54
4:23		Boo Buie misses two point jump shot
4:21		Trent Frazier defensive rebound
4:01	+3	Ayo Dosunmu makes three point jump shot (Jacob Grandison assists)	73-54
3:49		TV timeout
3:49		TV timeout
3:39		Boo Buie misses two point jump shot
3:37		Ayo Dosunmu defensive rebound
3:12	+2	Kofi Cockburn makes two point layup (Ayo Dosunmu assists)	75-54
2:49		Anthony Gaines misses three point jump shot
2:47		Miller Kopp offensive rebound
2:45		Miller Kopp misses two point layup
2:45		Kofi Cockburn defensive rebound
2:43		Anthony Gaines personal foul
2:16		Ayo Dosunmu misses two point layup
2:14		Kofi Cockburn offensive rebound
1:52		Ayo Dosunmu misses two point layup
1:52		Ryan Young defensive rebound
1:42		Trent Frazier personal foul (Miller Kopp draws the foul)
1:42	+1	Miller Kopp makes regular free throw 1 of 2	75-55
1:42	+1	Miller Kopp makes regular free throw 2 of 2	75-56
1:21	+3	Adam Miller makes three point jump shot (Andre Curbelo assists)	78-56
1:04		Miller Kopp misses three point jump shot
1:02		Adam Miller defensive rebound
0:46		Matthew Nicholson shooting foul (Jermaine Hamlin draws the foul)
0:46		Matthew Nicholson shooting foul (Jermaine Hamlin draws the foul)
0:46		Jermaine Hamlin misses regular free throw 1 of 2
0:46	+1	Jermaine Hamlin makes regular free throw 2 of 2	79-56
0:46	+1	Jermaine Hamlin makes regular free throw 2 of 2	79-56
0:42		Ryan Greer turnover (lost ball) (Andre Curbelo steals)
0:34	+2	Andre Curbelo makes two point layup	81-56
0:28		Miller Kopp misses three point jump shot
0:26		Adam Miller defensive rebound
0:17		Andre Curbelo turnover (back court violation)
0:09		Ty Berry misses two point jump shot
0:07		Adam Miller defensive rebound

Adam Miller defensive rebound