Illinois Fighting Illini vs Nebraska Cornhuskers Match Player Stats On Jan 11, 2022

Trent Frazier logged a season-high 29 points and Kofi Cockburn recorded his eighth consecutive double-double as No. 25 Illinois held off Nebraska 81-71 on Tuesday night in Lincoln, Neb.

Frazier scored 20 points in the second half as the Fighting Illini (12-3, 5-0 Big Ten) won their fifth in a row overall and ninth straight in conference play.

Cockburn had 16 points and 13 rebounds, but the 7-footer sat nearly the final four minutes due to foul trouble. He was 8 of 18 from the field but 0 for 5 from the foul line after coming in as a 69.7 percent foul shooter.

Nebraska (6-11, 0-6) used an 11-0 run over the final three minutes of the first half to lead 34-31 at the break. Illinois moved back in front on a Jacob Grandison layup that made it 43-42 with 14:49 remaining, and the Illini went on a 6-0 run to lead 51-47 with 11:18 left.

Illinois would maintain the edge until 3:57 to go when Bruce McGowens drew Cockburn's fourth foul and made both free throws to tie it at 65. The Illini followed with a 7-0 run, going up 72-65 with 2:28 remaining on a Da'Monte Williams 3-pointer.

The Illini outscored Nebraska 16-6 down the stretch with Cockburn on the bench.

McGowens led the Cornhuskers with 19 points while Alonzo Verge Jr. and Derrick Walker had 14 apiece. Verge added nine assists.

Nebraska came out hot, making six of its first seven shots to build a 16-4 lead, and the Cornhuskers were on top until midway through the first half. Illinois took control after that, going on an 18-2 run to lead 28-21 with 5:43 left before halftime.

The Fighting Illini made only one more basket the rest of the first half and trailed by three at the break.

Illinois returns home Friday to face Michigan, while Nebraska heads to No. 7 Purdue on Friday, hoping to end an eight-game Big Ten skid.

--Field Level Media