CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Freshman guard Trent Frazier scored a career-high 27 points and hit a game-tying three at the end of regulation, but the Fighting Illini fell in overtime to Iowa, 104-97.
Illinois led by as many as 20 in the first half and by 13 at halftime, but Iowa closed the gap quickly with a 10-0 run to open the second half.
It was Iowa's second-largest comeback win in school history. The biggest comeback was 22 points, also against Illinois in 1987.
Iowa (10-9, 1-5) outscored Illinois (10-8, 0-5) 14-7 in overtime after Frazier sank a 3-pointer at the buzzer to send the game into overtime.
"Trent did a phenomenal job for us," Illinois coach Brad Underwood said of Frazier. "I just need to do a better job at halftime, find a way somehow. We gave up 63 points in the second half and overtime. Think about that. Sixty-three points. First half was fun to watch, not so much the second."
Frazier led Illinois with 27 points, while Leron Black and Aaron Jordan added 18 points each. Jordan Bohannon scored a game-high 29 points, Tyler Cook scored 21 points and Luka Garza added 19 for Iowa.
Illinois, fueled by runs of 13-0 and 10-0 early in the game leaped to a 54-41 halftime lead and seemed headed to an easy home win. Iowa outrebounded the Illini 45-26, including 20-9 in the second half, and outscored Illinois 33-11 from the free throw line.
Iowa first took the lead 83-82 — its first since 4-2 — with 3:01 left in regulation on a 3-point play by Luke Garza.
Underwood was frustrated at Thursday's loss, which came on the heels of tough road losses to Minnesota and Michigan. "I honestly don't know," he said, shaking his head. "I mean, I gotta figure this out. We're just going to keep trying to figure this out. Losing is unacceptable. At some point, you gotta get tired of losing. You don't accept losing. It's not good."
The Fighting Illini return to action on Monday at Nebraska (8 pm CT on BTN).
TEAM NOTES
- Illinois made a season-high 14 3-pointers.
- Illinois is 0-3 in overtime games this season with all three OT losses coming in Big Ten games (Northwestern, Maryland, Iowa).
- Illinois led 54-41 at halftime.
- Illinois' 54 points in the first half were the most Iowa has allowed in a half this season.
- Illinois set season highs in points in a half (54), field goals made in a half (20) and three-pointers made in a half (9) in the first half.
- Illinois went on a 13-0 run (18:21-13:56) and a 10-0 run (10:20-8:29) in the first half.
- Iowa's 40 free-throw attempts were the most by an opponent at State Farm Center since Wisconsin took 42 2/3/2013.
INDIVIDUAL NOTES
- Freshman guard Trent Frazier scored a career-high 27 points. Frazier made a career-high seven 3-pointers on 11 attempts, tied for the fifth-most threes made in a game by an Illini and one behind the record of eight. It is the most threes made by an Illini player since Tracy Abrams hit seven against Central Michigan 12/10/2016. Frazier's seven threes were the most by an Illini in a Big Ten game since Brandon Paul made eight against Ohio State 1/10/2012.
- Freshman forward Greg Eboigbodin played a career-high 25 minutes, his third straight game playing a career-high minutes. Eboigbodin scored eight points and had four rebounds.
- Redshirt junior forward Leron Black scored 18 points, including 12 in the second half.
- Sophomore guard Te'Jon Lucas did not dress due to a violation of team rules.
