Northwestern’s Overtime Surge Sinks No. 10 Illinois

No. 10 Illinois vs Northwestern

Boo Buie concluded with 29 points and home team Northwestern scored the initial nine points of overtime to seize a 96-91 Big Ten surprise of No. 10 Illinois on Wednesday night in Evanston, Ill.

Brooks Barnhizer added 23 points for Northwestern (14-5, 5-3 Big Ten), which designed a significantly distinct outcome from the teams’ initial meeting on Jan. 2, when the Wildcats never led during a 30-point defeat on Illinois’ home floor.

Ty Berry included 14 points and Matthew Nicholson recorded 12 points and eight rebounds in a game that showcased 18 lead changes and 15 deadlocks as neither team led by more than five during regulation.

Coleman Hawkins led lllinois (14-5, 5-3) with 22 points and 13 rebounds while Marcus Domask contributed 22 points and six assists. Quincy Guerrier achieved his sixth double-double in the last eight games with 15 points and 11 rebounds.

Terrence Shannon Jr. concluded with 12 points as he returned to Illinois’ starting lineup for the first time since Dec. 22. He entered the game off the bench Sunday in his first contest since coming back from his Dec. 27 suspension that cost him six games.

When Buie, who also had seven assists, advanced to the basket and tossed in a hook with one second remaining, he granted the Wildcats a 34-32 lead at the intermission — their first advantage since 14-11.

Illinois trailed despite holding an 11-1 edge on the offensive glass. Both teams emerged red-hot in the second half as Illinois converted its first four 3-pointers and Northwestern went 3 of 4 from long range.

The rivals interchanged the lead six times in the initial four minutes of the half before the Wildcats constructed a 49-45 lead with 14:50 to go. Ty Berry drilled two 3-pointers and a 15-foot pullup in an 85-second period.

Illinois trailed 60-57 with 7:48 left when Berry was called for a flagrant foul for striking Shannon in the face unintentionally while attempting to block a severe dunk attempt.

Shannon converted both free throws, then Goode added two free throws on Illinois’ ensuing possession to regain a 61-60 lead with 7:39 to go.

That motivated another flurry of deadlocks and lead changes, culminated by Shannon’s 3-pointer that pulled Illinois into a 72-72 knot with 3:39 to play.

Illinois had an opportunity to succeed in regulation, but Domask’s contested pullup in the lane with five seconds remaining rimmed off.

Northwestern asserted dominance two minutes into overtime when Buie drained a 3-pointer, then fed Barnhizer for a four-point play that generated an 83-76 lead — the first margin of the game greater than 5.

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