Illinois Tops Indiana, Will Face Michigan In Big Ten Quarterfinals
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Tracy Abrams had 25 points to lead ninth-seeded Illinois to a 64-54 win over eight-seed Indiana on Thursday in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament.
The Illini (19-13) used runs of 9-0 in the first half and 11-0 in the second half to improve to 6-2 all-time against Indiana in the Big Ten Tournament.
The victory sends Illinois into a second-round matchup on Friday with Big Ten regular-season champion and eighth-ranked Michigan.
Abrams stymied a late rally by the Hoosiers (17-15) with a 3-pointer and two free throws that turned a late 53-52 Illinois lead into a 58-52 advantage.
Rayvonte Rice added 13 points and Kendrick Nunn scored 10 for the Illini.
Yogi Ferrell led the Hoosiers with 14 points. Will Sheehey added 13 points — 11 of them in the first half — and Troy Williams scored 11 for Indiana.
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