Illinois trailed from the opening tip until the game's final minute on Friday.
But it led when it counted, riding late Alfonso Plummer free throws to a 54-53 win to fend off an upset bid by No. 13 seed UT Chattanooga in the men's NCAA tournament.
The Illini trailed by 20-7 to open the game and allowed the Mocs to open the second half on a 7-0 run to extend their lead to 40-29 lead after halftime. But they battled back throughout the second half and took their first lead at 52-51 on a Kofi Cockburn jumper with 46 seconds remaining.