CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Now that’s how you play 40 minutes of basketball.
Illinois picked up its most impressive win of the early season in a BIG way. The Illini (7-3, 1-1) did just enough to hold off a late rally from the No. 5 Michigan Wolverines (8-2, 1-1) on Wednesday evening at the State Farm Center in Champaign, 71-62.
After failing to execute down the stretch in their two-game skid against Miami and at No. 3 Maryland, the Illini finally put together their most complete performance of the season against the Wolverines. Michigan came to town with an impressive early season resume, but couldn’t keep pace with Illinois in the second half.