CHAMPAIGN — Trent Frazier's floater with 7 minutes, 43 seconds to play in the Illinois-Missouri Braggin' Rights showdown gave the Illini a 56-55 lead.
Illinois really took the lead. Frazier's bucket — against former teammate Mark Smith no less — capped a 10-2 Illini run the sophomore guard was mostly responsible for building last Saturday night.
Illinois had momentum at the Enterprise Center in St. Louis. If ever briefly.
Finishing a game like that has been a hit-or-miss proposition this season for the Illini. Like the four-point lead Illinois had on Georgetown with 7:35 to play before a 20-8 run by the Hoyas saw them leave Champaign with an 88-80 win on Nov.