Mohammed-Ali Abdur-Rahkman smacked down a 15-0 Illinois run with a right-handed dunk, making it 35-26 with 3:30 left in the half.
At the final media timeout of the half, the Wolverines were still up nine, but out of the timeout Malcom Hill made a pair of free throws, cutting Michigan's lead to 35-28.
But a three from Abdur-Rahkman brought the lead back to double digits with just over a minute left.
Illinois trying to claw back
After going nearly three minutes without a point, Illinois is on a 10-0 run -- squarely on the back of guard Tracy Abrams, who has all ten points himself.