STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) - Malcolm Hill scored a career-high 39 points for Illinois, which fought back from a 10-point deficit with just over 12 minutes to play.
But Penn State mounted a 19-9 run that included 9-of-10 shooting from the line to close out the game in double overtime, 86-79 on Sunday.
Hill scored 24 of his 39 in the second half and added 13 rebounds for the Fighting Illini.
Illinois will play in the opening round of the conference tournament on Wednesday.
Shep Garner scored 22 points for the Nittany Lions.
Brandon Taylor added 21 points and 11 rebounds for Penn State, who secured a first-round bye in the Big Ten tournament for the first time in program history. The win snapped a two-game losing streak and marked Penn State's most conference wins under head coach Patrick Chambers.
Khalid Lewis added 10 points for the Illini who outscored Penn State 22-12 over the final 8:49 of regulation.
