CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Freshman Ayo Dosunmu scored 19 of his game-high 23 points in the first half but the Illini came up short against No. 2 Michigan Thursday night at State Farm Center.
Freshman Giorgi Bezhanishvili added 15 points and sophomore Trent Frazier added 13 points and five rebounds for the Fighting Illini.
"I thought we played well defensively," Illinois coach Brad Underwood said. "That's usually good enough to win, but we had some inconsistencies on offense."
Dosunmu banked in a three in the final second of the first half to send Illinois into the locker room with momentum despite trailing 39-34.
The Fighting Illini closed to within four early in the second half, 42-38, and pulled within five points at 49-44 with 13:30 left on Aaron Jordan's 3-pointer, but it was the closest the Illini could come, thanks to Michigan's offense and smothering defense down the stretch.
Zavier Simpson scored 16 points and Ignas Brazdeikis had 15 to lead the undefeated Wolverines (16-0, 5-0). Charles Matthews added 14 points for Michigan, and Jon Teske had 13 points and 11 rebounds.
UP NEXT: Illinois (4-12, 0-5) has the weekend off before returning to action on Wednesday, Jan. 16, when Minnesota comes to State Farm Center.
ILLINOIS POSTGAME NOTES
• Freshman Ayo Dosunmu finished with 23 points on 10-16 shooting (63%), his fourth-career 20+ point game and third in the last four games. Dosunmu also added seven rebounds and a career-high two blocks.
• Freshman Ayo Dosunmu scored 19 of his 23 points in the first half.
• Freshman Giorgi Bezhanishvili scored in double figures for the seventh time this season, finishing with 15 points (6-11 FG).
• Freshmen Dosunmu and Bezhanishvili combined to score 38 of Illinois' 69 points.
• The quartet of Ayo Dosunmu (19), Kipper Nichols (7), Giorgi Bezhanishvili (6) and Trent Frazier (2) combined to score all 34 first half points for the Illini.
