CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — In a thrilling matchup on Sunday, Will Riley emerged as a key player for the No. 18 Illinois team, scoring 20 of his total 24 points in the decisive second half. With his help, Illinois overcame an 11-point deficit to claim an 87-79 victory over Ohio State.
Morez Johnson Jr. made a significant contribution as well, finishing with 14 points and an impressive 15 rebounds. Kylan Boswell also netted 14 points, while Tomislav Ivisic recorded a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds. Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn added 10 points for the Illini (15-7, 7-5 Big Ten), who managed a remarkable 15-point scoring streak during a crucial five-minute segment late in the game.
On the opposing side, Ohio State (13-9, 5-6) saw Devin Royal shine with 29 points, including 19 in the first half. Bruce Thornton contributed 22 points, and John Mobley Jr. added 18 points to the Buckeyes’ tally. Despite their efforts, Ohio State had their three-game winning streak halted by the Illini.
Ivisic, who serves as Illinois’ number two scorer and the team’s leading rebounder, made his return to the court after being sidelined for three games due to mononucleosis. He logged 29 minutes of play upon his comeback.
In terms of performance, Illinois had previously struggled from beyond the arc, as they managed only 10 of 42 3-pointers during a disappointing overtime defeat to Nebraska. Against Ohio State, they struggled again with a 4 of 20 showing from the three-point line but made up for it by dominating the boards with a 43-31 rebounding advantage and scoring 52 points in the paint compared to Ohio State’s 30.
Looking back at Ohio State, the Buckeyes’ winning streak could have been extended, but they previously faced a tough stretch. They lost three consecutive games by a mere five points before returning to form with a win against No. 10 Purdue on January 21.
A pivotal moment in the game came when Illinois experienced a nearly seven-minute drought without a field goal in the first half, causing them to fall behind 34-25. However, they battled back and mounted a 15-point run, which began with about seven minutes remaining in the game. Throughout the contest, Illinois managed to lead for less than 10 minutes.
A standout statistic from the game was the notable contribution from Illinois’ bench, which outscored Ohio State’s bench significantly, 43-4.
Looking ahead, Illinois will take on Rutgers on Wednesday night, while Ohio State will host Maryland on Thursday night.
