One week, the Big Ten’s two worst teams, and Ayo Dosunmu taking over twice.
Four days removed from going to overtime with the conference’s last-place team in Nebraska, the No. 5 Illini picked up right where they left off against Northwestern, eventually escaping the Wildcats behind Dosunmu’s late-game heroics, 73-66, on Tuesday night in Champaign.
Illinois ( trailed by 15 at halftime of its Jan. 7 meeting with Northwestern in Evanston. After halftime, the Illini clicked and went on a 53-13 half-long run — and that run continued at the State Farm Center.
And from the jump Tuesday it was all Illinois — on both sides of the floor — with the love spread all over the court.