A week into January, the ‘Cats are still searching for their first Big Ten win.
Even with a whopping 52-point second half, Northwestern’s first half deficit proved to be too much, as the Wildcats (6-8, 0-4 B1G) fell to the Illini (14-2, 4-1 B1G) by the score of 85-79, snapping a 14-game win streak against their in-state rival.
The Wildcats fell down by as much as 20 at the half, but narrowed the Illinois lead to just two late in the fourth. However, the Illini were able to pull away and climb to second in the conference.