Bertrand scores 13 points in Big Ten-opening victory
|
| Minnesota's Ralph Sampson III (50) and Illinois' Meyers Leonard (12) reach for a loose ball during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Champaign, Ill., Tuesday, Dec. 27, 2011. (AP Photo/Robert K. O'Daniell) (Robert K. O'Daniell (FRE)) |
| Buy Sauk Valley Media Photos » |
CHAMPAIGN – Fewer second-half turnovers might have averted not one, but a pair of overtime periods on Tuesday – but Illinois players wouldn’t attribute their escape with a double-overtime win over Minnesota to luck.
Brandon Paul had six points and Meyers Leonard added four in the second overtime as the Illini topped the Gophers 81-72 in a Big Ten season opener at the Assembly Hall.
“I wouldn’t say it was fortunate; we did what we had to do to win,” said Leonard, who finished with 20 points and 11 rebounds.
“It probably shouldn’t have gone into overtime,” admitted Paul, who had 21 points to lead five Illini scorers in double figures. “Coach told us just to find a way to grind it out.”
Illinois (12-2) had 21 turnovers for the game, which Minnesota converted into 16 points.
“We just can’t turn the ball over like that,” Illini coach Bruce Weber said. “We pieced it together and got the win. I just hope the next 17 aren’t like this.”
Ralph Sampson III paced Minnesota (12-2) with a game-high 22 points as the Gophers rallied from a 13-point deficit. Minnesota was on the brink of a regulation victory before Leonard hit a pair of free throws with 6.8 seconds left in regulation to force a 64-64 deadlock.
“It as quite a college basketball game,” said Gophers coach Tubby Smith. “We came back and had the wind at our back and they responded. We had some chances to put the game away at the end but couldn’t.”
In the first extra session, the Illini and Gophers each missed shots in the final five seconds and entered a second another five-minute overtime period tied at 70-70.
But Illinois quickly took command in the opening minute as Paul hit one free throw, then had a steal and a jam for a 73-70 lead. Leonard added a pair of free throws at the 2:31 mark for a 75-70 lead. Minnesota managed just one bucket the rest of the way – a long 2 pointer from Sampson.
Joining Paul and Leonard in double figures were Joseph Bertrand, a Sterling High School graduate, and D.J. Richardson with 13 apiece while Sam Maniscalco added 10.
Leonard, this week’s Big Ten Player of the Week, was scoreless for more than 11 minutes until scoring a reverse layup that ignited a 16-9 surge.
Illinois led by as many as 13 points late in the half before Rodney Williams’ buzzer-beating 3 pointer cut the halftime margin to 10.
The Illinois also three separate 13 points leads in the second half, the last coming on Joseph Bertrand’s fast break layup at 13:17 that opened a 48-35 advantage.
That comfortable edge quickly slipped away as a spate of turnovers – including three the Gophers converted into points – helped the visitors on a 10-0 run over the next 3 minutes that slashed the Illini lead to 48-45.
Minnesota shot 26-for-69 from the field (37.7 percent) but 16-for-18 on free throws. After a 56 percent first half, Illinois shooting slipped in the second half and they closed at 28-for-60 (46.7 percent).
Star of the game: Meyers Leonard, Illinois, 20 points, 11 rebounds
Key performers: Brandon Paul, Illinois, 21 points; Joseph Bertrand, Illinois, 13 points
Up next: Illinois at Purdue, 3 p.m. Saturday (ESPN2)
