SB Nation Chicago - Ohio State Vs. Illinois: Fighting Illini Pull Off 79-74 Upset Of No. 5 Buckeyeshttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48877/chicago-fave.png2012-01-10T22:19:16-06:00http://chicago.sbnation.com/rss/stream/24626322012-01-10T22:19:16-06:002012-01-10T22:19:16-06:00Ohio State Vs. Illinois Final Score: Fighting Illini Upset No. 5 Buckeyes
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<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/teams/illinois-fighting-illini">Illinois Fighting Illini</a> knocked off the Ohio State Buckeyes, currently ranked fifth in the nation, on Tuesday night by a score of 79-74. It was an extremely tight game between Big Ten rivals, but Illinois junior guard <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/99887/brandon-paul">Brandon Paul</a> was absolutely electric in leading the Fighting Illini with a career-high 43 points. </p>
<p>In the first half, Ohio State built a lead as large as eight points, but Illinois would never go away. The Buckeyes led 39-34 going into halftime and extended that lead to 48-37 early in the second half. The Fighting Illini responded, though, scoring nine unanswered points to get right back into the game. With the home crowd behind Illinois, it continued to rain down shots at a stunning rate. The Fighting Illini finished the game shooting 60 percent from the field, including 11-for-18 from three-point range.</p>
<p>The big story on the night truly must be Paul, the junior guard for Illinois, though. One of the veteran leaders of the team, he put on a marquee performance that will likely be talked about in Champaign for years. Paul scored an incredible 43 points despite taking only 15 shots. He was 11-for-15 from the field overall, 8-for-10 from three-point range and 13-for-15 from the free throw line. And beyond the scoring, he grabbed eight rebounds, blocked four shots, dished three assists and nabbed two steals. </p>
<p>The win bumps Illinois to 15-3 on the season, while Ohio State has an identical 15-3 record after its loss. The Fighting Illini are now in second-place in the Big Ten conference standings behind No. 7 Michigan State, the only team without a conference game loss.</p>
<p><i style="border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'Liberation Sans', FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">For more coverage of the Illini, be sure to explore <a style="border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: #03406b; font-weight: bold; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;" href="http://www.hailtotheorange.com/" target="_blank">Hail to the Orange</a>. Stay tuned to <a style="border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: #03406b; font-weight: bold; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;" href="http://chicago.sbnation.com/" target="_blank">SB Nation Chicago</a> for live, in-game scores and updates. News and analysis on the Ohio State Buckeyes is available at <a style="border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: #03406b; font-weight: bold; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;" href="http://www.alongtheolentangy.com/" target="_blank">Along The Olentangy</a>.</i></p>
https://chicago.sbnation.com/illinois-fighting-illini/2012/1/10/2698638/ohio-state-vs-illinois-final-score-recap-ncaa-basketball-2012Satchel Price2012-01-10T10:04:56-06:002012-01-10T10:04:56-06:00Illinois Vs Ohio State Preview: Meyers Leonard Meets Jared Sullinger in Big Ten Showdown
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<p>The Illinois Fighting Illini (14-3, 3-1) host the No. 5-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes (15-2, 3-1) on Tuesday night in a Big-10 showdown.</p> <p>When the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/teams/illinois-fighting-illini" class="sbn-auto-link">Illinois Fighting Illini</a> and the meet up with the Ohio State Buckeyes in Champaign on Tuesday night, all eyes will be on big men <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/123688/meyers-leonard">Meyers Leonard</a> and <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/124094/jared-sullinger" class="sbn-auto-link">Jared Sullinger</a>. The Illini are home underdogs against the fifth-ranked Buckeyes, but this is an opportunity for the team to make a statement in the Big Ten. If they can keep it close and limit turnovers that plagued them in narrow wins over the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/teams/northwestern-wildcats" class="sbn-auto-link">Northwestern Wildcats</a> and <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/teams/nebraska-cornhuskers" class="sbn-auto-link">Nebraska Cornhuskers</a>, they actually have proven capable of pulling out tight games this season and are <a target="_blank" href="http://www.suntimes.com/sports/9914135-419/illinois-looking-for-some-consistency-on-offense-vs-ohio-state.html">5-1 in games decided by less than five points</a>.</p>
<p>Sullinger has dominated on most nights so far this season for the Buckeyes, and leads the team with an average of 17.1 points and 9.6 rebounds per game. With Leonard dealing with constant double teams, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/99886/d-j-richardson" class="sbn-auto-link">D.J. Richardson</a> currently leads the Illini with an average of 13.2 points per game, while their star big man has put up averages of 12.9 points and 8.0 rebounds. Here is what the staff at Hail To The Orange thinks about t<a target="_blank" href="http://www.hailtotheorange.com/2012/1/10/2695735/against-ohio-state-illinois-has-opportunity-to-change-course#storyjump">he Sullinger-Leonard matchup</a>:</p>
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<p>I desperately want to see Sullinger and Leonard go at each other one on one, not just because I think Meyers can hold his own on the defensive end, but because I think we could see his offensive numbers explode again. The last time a top tier center guarded Meyers one on one, it was <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/29773/robert-sacre">Robert Sacre</a>, and Meyers got 21 points and six boards. If Ohio State decides they can lock down the wings so as not to risk a <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/99887/brandon-paul">Brandon Paul</a> or Joe Bertrand points bonanza, Meyers could actually have an opportunity to establish himself down low and work his game once again.<span style="text-align: left;"> </span></p>
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<p><b>Game date, time:</b> 8:00 p.m. CT, Tuesday, Jan. 10th, 2011</p>
<p><b>Location:</b> Assembly Hall, Champaign, IL</p>
<p><b>Radio</b>: AM 560</p>
<p><b>TV</b>: ESPN</p>
<p><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/odds" target="_blank"><b>Spread:</b></a> Buckeyes are currently favored by nine points, and the over/under is currently set at 123.5 points.</p>
<p><i>For more coverage of the Illini, be sure to explore <a target="_blank" href="http://www.hailtotheorange.com/">Hail to the Orange</a>. Stay tuned to <a target="_blank" href="http://chicago.sbnation.com/">SB Nation Chicago</a> for live, in-game scores and updates. News and analysis on the Ohio State Buckeyes is available at <a target="_blank" href="http://www.alongtheolentangy.com/">Along The Olentangy</a>.</i></p>
https://chicago.sbnation.com/illinois-fighting-illini/2012/1/10/2696553/ncaa-preview-ohio-state-vs-illinois-jared-sullinger-myers-leonardSteve von Horn