Brendan Ross
FightingIllini.com
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The Illinois Fighting Illini beat Nebraska 86-70 on Thursday night at the State Farm Center. The Illini were led by freshman Andre Curbelo's 10 points, 12 rebounds and eight assists and sophomore Kofi Cockburn's 24 points and seven rebounds.
The game started off slow, with each team struggling to score for the first ten minutes. Illinois never trailed in the first half, propelled by 16 points from freshman Adam Miller on 7-of-11 shooting. They eventually took a 36-28 advantage into the locker room.
Out of the break, the Orange and Blue stayed ahead for the remainder of the night and cruised to their 13th conference win of the season on senior night in Champaign. The game was scrappy throughout, with six total technical fouls, but the Illini stayed disciplined and won their final home game of the 2020-21 season.
Senior Trent Frazier finished with seven points and senior Da'Monte Williams added eight points, seven rebounds and four steals. Senior Zach Griffith made his first career start and contributed two rebounds.
Gallery: (2-25-2021) Illinois vs. Nebraska - 2/25/2021
FRESHMAN PHENOMS
Curbelo and Miller took advantage of junior Ayo Dosunmu sitting this game out due to a broken nose. Miller finished with 18 points and four rebounds while Curbelo flirted with a triple-double, ending up two assists short.
DEFENSE AND REBOUNDING
Illinois dominated the glass, outrebounding the Cornhuskers by a margin of 43-29 with twelve coming on the offensive end. Their defense was tenacious, forcing Nebraska into 17 turnovers and grabbing eight total steals.
NEXT UP
Illinois is back in action on Saturday, February 27 against Wisconsin. Tip-off will be at 1:00 p.m. CT in Madison, Wisc. and will be broadcasted on ESPN.
NOTES
- Seniors Da'Monte Williams and Trent Frazier were joined in the starting lineup by classmate Zach Griffith, who made his first career start on the Illini Senior Night.
- Sophomore Kofi Cockburn reached double digits for the 21st time this season and the 45th of his career with 24 points – including an 8-for-10 mark at the free throw line – to go along with seven rebounds.
- Cockburns's eight made free throws is his highest since going 9-for-13 at Penn State on Jan. 19.
- Cockburn's 24 points marks his eighth 20-point game and 13th of his career.
- At 17.7 ppg and 10.0 rpg overall, Cockburn is one of just three players from the high-major conferences currently averaging a double-double. He is on pace to become the first Illini player since Nick Weatherspoon in 1973 (25.0 ppg, 12.3 rpg) to average a double-double for an entire season.
- Kofi Cockburn was 8-for-10 shooting (80%). Cockburn has shot 60.0% or better in 17 games this season, which is tied for second-most in the nation.
- Freshman Andre Curbelo came within two assists of the Illini's third triple-double in six games with his first-career double-double with 10 points, a career-high 12 rebounds and eight assists.
- It is the ninth game that Curbelo has recorded 5+ assists and fifth game with 7+ assists.
- Freshman Adam Miller turned in his 10th double-digit scoring effort with 18 points.
- Redshirt-junior Jacob Grandison posted a season-high 14 points on 4-for-7 shooting, including a career-high 6-for-7 mark at the free throw line, while adding seven rebounds.
- Senior DaMonte Williams tied a career-high with four steals. He has recorded four steals on three occasions, with the last time coming against Georgetown on Nov. 13, 2018.
- Illinois held Nebraska to 44.3% shooting (27-61). Illinois has held 12 of its last 14 opponents to less than 45% shooting. Since the loss to Ohio State, Illini foes are shooting a combined 43.0% over the last seven games (260-605).
- Illinois is 15-1 this season when holding teams to less than 45% shooting.
- Illinois outrebounded the Huskers, 43-29 for a +14 rebounding margin.
- Illinois had a 46-32 advantage in points in the paint, a 16-2 edge in fast break points and a 12-4 advantage in second chance points.
- Illinois converted 22-of-29 free throws, with its 22-made free throws a season high in State Farm Center and the most free throws made in a conference game at home since March 3, 2019 vs. Northwestern.
- Illinois finishes its 2020-21 home slate with a 11-2 record in State Farm Center.
