For 30 minutes, the Illini proved they belong with the big boys of college basketball.
Despite hanging with the Bears for a majority of the game, No. 2 Baylor (3-0) pulled away from No. 5 Illinois (3-1) 82-69 in the Jimmy V Classic in Indianapolis on Wednesday.
When you find yourself going up against one of the best defensive teams in the nation, you’re going to need somebody outside of the usual suspects to step up. With Ayo Dosunmu getting locked up for the majority of the game, the Illini needed production from somewhere else.
Giorgi Bezhanishvili was the guy.