Illinois makes program-record 18 3-pointers in 106-48 win
AP
Dec 18, 2021
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) Kofi Cockburn scored 21 points with 11 rebounds and Alfonso Plummer and Jacob Grandison combined for nine of Illinois Fighting Illini' program-record 18 3-pointers in a 106-48 win over St. Francis (Pennsylvania) on Saturday.
The 7-foot, 285-pound Cockburn had no rival in the paint, making 9 of 11 shots with four dunks and bringing an intimidating defensive presence inside against the Red Storm (4-6). His double-double was the 34th in his career.
Plummer just missed going over 20 points for the seventh straight game after hitting five 3-pointers and scoring all of his points in the first half when the Fighting Illini (8-3) took a 24-point lead. Grandison hit four from the arc in scoring 18 and going over 1,000 points for his career.
The Illini were 18 of 34 from the arc and shot 66% percent overall, dominated the boards 44-27 and outscored the Red Flash 40-16 in the paint. The bench scored 34 points. Illinois went over 100 points for the first time since making 17 3-pointers and scoring 122 points versus North Carolina A&T in November 2020. This was the fifth straight game Illinois has made at least 11 3-pointers.
Ronell Giles Jr. scored 16 points, Myles Thompson 12 and Ramiir Dixon-Conover 10 for St. Francis, which shot only 26%.
Grandison hit two 3-pointers to open the second half and the Fighting Illini went on to lead by 34 by the first media timeout. Consecutive dunks by Cockburn began a 27-3 run that resulted in a 54-point lead with 5 1/2 minutes left.
Illinois decided this game early, shooting 70% and making 7 of 13 3-pointers in the first half. St. Francis hit three 3-pointers in the first two minutes but then made only two of its next 21 shots and were at 23% shooting at the break. Illinois finished the half by making nine of its final 10 shots, including four 3-pointers, to lead 47-23.
Illinois won for the sixth time in its last seven games after coming off a four-point loss to then-No. 11 Arizona. The Illini take on Missouri in St. Louis on Wednesday.
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1st Half
STFR
Red Flash
23
ILL
Fighting Illini
47
Time
Team
Play
Score
20:00
Mark Flagg vs. Kofi Cockburn (Ramiir Dixon-Conover gains possession)
19:33
+3
Ramiir Dixon-Conover makes three point jump shot
3-0
19:27
Alfonso Plummer misses three point jump shot
19:25
Kofi Cockburn offensive rebound
19:22
+2
Kofi Cockburn makes two point putback layup
3-2
19:02
+3
Ronell Giles, Jr. makes three point jump shot
6-2
18:36
+3
Trent Frazier makes three point jump shot
6-5
18:01
+3
Myles Thompson makes three point jump shot (Ramiir Dixon-Conover assists)
9-5
17:45
+3
Alfonso Plummer makes three point jump shot
9-8
17:24
Ronell Giles, Jr. misses three point jump shot
17:21
Fighting Illini defensive rebound
17:12
+2
Kofi Cockburn makes two point hook shot (Jacob Grandison assists)
9-10
16:54
Ramiir Dixon-Conover misses two point jump shot
16:52
Jacob Grandison defensive rebound
16:46
Jacob Grandison misses three point pullup jump shot
16:44
Ronell Giles, Jr. defensive rebound
16:36
Ronell Giles, Jr. misses three point jump shot
16:34
Mark Flagg offensive rebound
16:28
Mark Flagg turnover (bad pass)
16:21
Jacob Grandison turnover (traveling)
16:05
Mark Flagg misses two point jump shot
16:03
Jacob Grandison defensive rebound
15:55
Ronell Giles, Jr. shooting foul (Kofi Cockburn draws the foul)
15:55
TV timeout
15:55
+1
Kofi Cockburn makes regular free throw 1 of 2
9-11
15:55
Kofi Cockburn misses regular free throw 2 of 2
15:55
Maxwell Land defensive rebound
15:31
Maxwell Land misses two point driving layup
15:29
Fighting Illini defensive rebound
15:09
Alfonso Plummer misses three point jump shot
15:07
Myles Thompson defensive rebound
14:51
Da'Monte Williams personal foul (Myles Thompson draws the foul)
14:49
Josh Cohen turnover (lost ball)
14:28
Josh Cohen shooting foul (Kofi Cockburn draws the foul)
14:28
+1
Kofi Cockburn makes regular free throw 1 of 2
9-12
14:28
+1
Kofi Cockburn makes regular free throw 2 of 2
9-13
14:15
Ramiir Dixon-Conover misses two point jump shot
14:13
Josh Cohen offensive rebound
14:07
Josh Cohen misses two point layup
14:05
Kofi Cockburn defensive rebound
14:00
Brandin Podziemski misses three point jump shot
13:58
Da'Monte Williams offensive rebound
13:51
Trent Frazier turnover (bad pass)
13:28
Ramiir Dixon-Conover misses two point jump shot
13:26
Marlon Hargis offensive rebound
13:21
Ronell Giles, Jr. misses two point jump shot
13:19
Josh Cohen offensive rebound
13:14
Marlon Hargis misses two point jump shot
13:12
Ronell Giles, Jr. offensive rebound
13:10
+2
Ronell Giles, Jr. makes two point putback layup
11-13
12:48
+2
Kofi Cockburn makes two point alley-oop dunk (Da'Monte Williams assists)
11-15
12:22
Ronell Giles, Jr. misses three point jump shot
12:20
Josh Cohen offensive rebound
12:09
Ramiir Dixon-Conover turnover (traveling)
11:39
+2
Benjamin Bosmans-Verdonk makes two point fadeaway jump shot
11-17
11:12
Josh Cohen misses two point jump shot
11:10
Alfonso Plummer defensive rebound
10:56
Luke Goode misses three point jump shot
10:54
Benjamin Bosmans-Verdonk offensive rebound
10:53
Maxwell Land personal foul (Benjamin Bosmans-Verdonk draws the foul)
10:53
TV timeout
10:42
+3
Alfonso Plummer makes three point jump shot
11-20
10:21
Omar Payne shooting foul (Josh Cohen draws the foul)
10:21
Josh Cohen misses regular free throw 1 of 2
10:21
+1
Josh Cohen makes regular free throw 2 of 2
12-20
9:53
Trent Frazier misses two point step back jump shot
9:51
Ronell Giles, Jr. defensive rebound
9:33
Ronell Giles, Jr. misses two point jump shot
9:31
Red Flash offensive rebound
9:17
Benjamin Bosmans-Verdonk personal foul (Myles Thompson draws the foul)