CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Even though it was just a midterm, Illinois showed it can pass the final.
In a rematch of last March’s season finale, Ayo Dosunmu and the Illini made for the same result, beating No. 7 Iowa in a thriller, this time 80-75. Halfway through the Big Ten slate, Illinois sits at 7-3 and in the top-4 in conference, now also with a signature win over National Player of the Year candidate Luka Garza and the Hawkeyes’ plethora of shooters.
The Illini showed no rust despite playing for the first time in 10 days. Meanwhile, Iowa came into Friday after its worst game of the year, a 12-point loss at home to an Indiana team that Illinois beat by nine last month.