When Jacob Granderson inbounded the ball to Trent Frazier, the probability of Illinois’ ending a three-year losing streak in Braggin’ Rights was robust: 98.3 percent.
Or you could have looked at the scoreboard, where the Illini owned a 14-point lead to open the second half at Enterprise Center. But a particular strain of Missouri fan might have cobbled together an optimistic outlook.
After enduring a 14-2 jag by the Illini, the Tigers whittled the margin to six with roughly four minutes until the break. Its expansion owed itself to quality shot-making in the last two minutes. Alfonso Plummer banked a high-arching runner off the window, and 58 seconds later, Frazier canned a 25-foot 3-ball in front of the MU bench.