Illin extend streak against Tigers
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By Mark Tupper | Monday, December 31, 2007 |
ST. LOUIS — Unless the December stars could somehow realign in a different configuration, the stage was set Saturday for Illinois to relive a basketball nightmare that has been playing out over and over for a month now.
Tight game, baskets and free throws so very precious, and a potential victory looking like it might slip through trembling fingers one more time.
Just as it did against Maryland.
Just as it did against Arizona.
Just as it did Thursday against Miami (Ohio).
But Shaun Pruitt’s determined basket with 35 seconds to go, then some frantic defense and a final turnover by Missouri paved the way to Illinois’ most exciting outcome of the season, a 59-58 victory that extends its Braggin’ Rights streak to eight.
“That play felt like it took 30 seconds, maybe a minute,” Pruitt said of the winning basket. “I know some people kept it alive, maybe Trent Meacham or Mike Davis. I’m glad it went in. Finally.”
Pruitt brought Illinois within one point at 58-57 by making one of two free throws with 1:36 to play. And when Missouri’s J.T. Tiller traveled with 1:14 left, Illinois got the ball back.
Missouri had spent the second half swarming Pruitt, sending two and three defenders in an effective trap that held Illinois’ center without a second-half basket until the final flourish.
This time, with less than a minute to play, Illinois got the ball inside to Pruitt, who shot and missed. He grabbed the rebound and shot again. And again he missed. And somehow he ended up with the ball again.
This time Pruitt’s shot went through the net, putting the Illini up 59-58. Missouri dashed up the court with a chance to win, but Illini freshman Mike Davis blocked a shot by Missouri’s Stefhon Hannah.
Chester Frazier appeared to control the ball in a scramble near the corner, but somehow, while Frazier was trying to call timeout, the ball was knocked out of bounds.
Missouri was awarded possession with 18.6 seconds to go. And another chance to win.
Or, from Illinois’ tough-luck perspective, another chance to lose.
This time the ball was tipped away, and when Frazier grabbed it for Illinois, he was fouled with 9.7 seconds to go. But when he missed both free throws, Missouri charged in for one last try.
As Illinois braced for a shot or a drive to the basket, such drama never happened. Instead, Tigers’ guard Keon Lawrence dribbled the ball off his foot, and it rolled out of bounds just as the final buzzer sounded.
Illini players rushed to center court, celebrating the way they’d been unable to in those heartbreaking defeats. Assistant coach Jerrance Howard threw imaginary punches that brought his fist from the floor toward the heavens.
And for the eighth time in a row, Illini players hoisted the huge Braggin’ Rights trophy.
“It feels great,” said Pruitt, who finished with 14 points and eight rebounds.
“We’ve had a lot of close games, two overtime games, games we couldn’t quite finish. It feels good to finally finish a game and get the win.“
Illini coach Bruce Weber said there has been a lot of soul-searching the last two days.
“Our kids did a good job of keeping their focus, which they haven’t done in several games,” Weber said. “We needed it. I’m sure Missouri felt they did, but we needed it worse than they did.
“We talked about having the will to win. What do you have inside you? It’s been pretty low but now we have four straight home games, and hopefully we can take this, go home, relax and get our minds cleared. Maybe we can use it as a momentum builder.”
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