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BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — Trayce Jackson-Davis finished with 26 points and 12 rebounds, Jalen Hood Schifino made two free throws with 30.7 seconds left and No. 14 Indiana rallied from a nine-point second-half deficit to beat Illinois 71-68 on Saturday.
Hood-Schifino had 13 points for the Hoosiers (19-8, 10-6 Big Ten), who have won nine of 11 overall and 15 straight at home. Jackson-Davis also passed coach Mike Woodson for fifth on Indiana’s career scoring list with 2,081 points.
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Matthew Mayer scored 24 to lead the Fighting Illini (17-9, 8-7), who were without injured leading scorer Terrence Shannon. Jayden Epps, who scored 12 points, could have tied the game with two free throws with 16.7 seconds to go but missed the first, and Jackson-Davis sealed the victory with a breakaway dunk after the second shot.
Just minutes after the NCAA Tournament selection team projected the Hoosiers as a preliminary No. 13 seed, Illinois opened the second half with an 8-2 run to take a 46-37 lead. The Illini were still up 48-39 with 12 minutes, 41 seconds to play before Jackson-Davis finally responded with three straight baskets. The third was a three-point play that cut the deficit to 52-49 with 8:46 remaining, and 2½ minutes later, he tied the score with a layup.
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Indiana tied the score six more times over the final 6½ minutes before Hood-Schifino finally broke it with the free throws.
Illinois: When coach Brad Underwood’s team give up fewer than 70 points, they win. When they give up more than 70, they lose. And with Jackson-Davis playing so well, Illinois’ fate was predictable.
Indiana: The Hoosiers have been nearly unbeatable at home this season and weren’t about to let their outside chance at winning a conference title slip away at Assembly Hall. If Indiana can replicate its second-half performance next week on the road, it will have a chance to meet lofty preseason expectations.
Shannon did not make the trip because he is in the concussion protocol. The senior had started Illinois’ first 25 games and is the only player from a Power Five school to average at least 17 points, five rebounds, three assists and one steal.
Illinois: Begins a two-game homestand Monday against Minnesota.
Indiana: Faces a crucial test Tuesday at Michigan State in the Spartans’ first home game since the fatal campus shooting.
