Illinois Keeps Tournament Hopes Alive, Shuts Down Iowa
After losing the last two games, Illinois needed to do something. Coach Bruce Weber has been trying to keep the team alive by changing his lineup frequently and Saturday was no exception. The new lineup led the Illini to a needed win and shut down the Hawkeyes
Mike Tisdale scored 25 points and Illinois kept its NCAA tournament hopes alive with an 81-68 win Saturday over struggling Iowa.
Mike Davis added 20 points and nine rebounds. He was often the catalyst for the Illini (18-11, 8-8 Big Ten) on a night when Iowa, for a while, refused to go away.
Davis' short bucket with 12:34 to play gave Illinois a 58-43 lead that was too much for the Hawkeyes (10-18, 3-13).
Illinois led 36-31 at halftime and Iowa closed to within 38-35 early on a basket by Bryce Cartwright. But two free throws by Tisdale after Hawkeyes coach Fran McCaffery drew a technical and Davis' subsequent basket drained the Hawkeyes.
Melsahn Basabe led Iowa with 17 points. Jarryd Cole added 15.
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