CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — It’s been a tough couple of weeks for Brad Underwood’s Illini; vs. No. 2 Baylor, at No. 10 Duke, at (now) No. 16 Missouri. But all of that was to prepare a promising squad for the Big Ten and beyond.
Thanks to a career-high night from Kofi Cockburn (33 points, 13 rebounds), Illinois (5-2, 1-0) got back in the win column on Tuesday evening at the State Farm Center with a 92-65 victory over the Minnesota Golden Gophers (6-1, 0-1).
Minnesota big man Liam Robbins got things going early for the Golden Gophers, knocking down two triples from the top of the key and presenting a mismatch against Cockburn.