Illini beat Hoosiers 83-80 in overtime

Source: Chicago TribuneJan.迷你倉 01--CHAMPAIGN -- Unlike last season's buzzer-beater to beat then-No. 1 Indiana, this one required overtime for Illinois.But it was every bit as dramatic. And every bit as successful.In an intense and entertaining Big Ten opener Tuesday afternoon, it was only appropriate the game needed extra time as the Illini beat the Hoosiers 83-80, their second straight home victory in the series."We feel blessed to have won," Illinois coach John Groce said. "That game could have gone either way. It was one of those games, a high-level game."Led by a career-high-tying 29 points from guard Rayvonte Rice, the Illini (12-2, 1-0) overcame a career-high 30-point performance from Indiana guard Yogi Ferrell and a 2-for-17 effort on 3-pointers to start the Big Ten season and end 2013 on a positive note.Illinois held the Hoosiers (10-4, 0-1) to one field goal in the final 6 minutes, 44 seconds of regulation and overtime. Coach Tom Crean pointed out they made 24 of 30 free throws, but the Illini contained them down the stretch.Ferrell scored the only field goal in that stretch with 4 seconds left in overtime to cut Illinois' lead to 81-80.Rice, who also had eight rebounds and three steals, provided the final margin with two free throws with 2 seconds to play. The Hoosiers failed to get off a shot as the buzzer sounded.The Illini (12-2) thrived on demini storageense, creating 23 Indiana turnovers, and hustle plays."Just being together and communicating," said Tracy Abrams, who scored 17 points on 8-of-12 shooting."Nothing special. If guys are connected out there, I'm pretty sure we can find a way."No play seemed so big as Jon Ekey's steal from Noah Vonleh with 30 seconds left in overtime after Joseph Bertrand had split two free throws and the Illini clung to a 78-75 lead."He dove on the ball," Groce said. "He leads us in 'matto' (hustle) plays. He's a winner and he does a lot of the intangibles."Center Nnanna Egwu and Ekey combined to shoot 0-for-8 on 3-pointers. Groce said he's fine with them taking long-range shots given their history."(Egwu) had four clean looks and didn't make one," Groce said. "He's just got to stay with it."Both teams returned only a handful of players from last season, when the Illini upset Indiana 74-72 on a last-second uncontested layup by Tyler Griffey.The sellout crowd of 16,618 -- the first of the season at the State Farm Center -- was just as electric for the rematch."It was a great crowd for us," Abrams said. "It makes a difference. It gives guys the extra juice to go out there and make that extra play."sryan@tribune.comTwitter @sryantribuneCopyright: ___ (c)2013 the Chicago Tribune Visit the Chicago Tribune at .chicagotribune.com Distributed by MCT Information Services儲存