Ayo’s triple-double keys Illini
Ayo Dosunmu had the third triple-double in program history and Kofi Cockburn scored 23 points as No. 12 Illinois beat No. 19 Wisconsin 75-60 on Saturday in a key Big Ten matchup in Champaign.
Dosunmu scored 21 points, grabbed 12 rebounds and had 12 assists. Cockburn grabbed 14 rebounds and recorded his eighth double-double in nine games for Illinois (13-5, 9-3). He leads the nation with 13 overall.
Perhaps the best part of Dosunmu’s feat was that he called it before the game.
“I was shooting around with Trent [Frazier] and told him to watch out because I was going to get a triple-double,” Dosunmu said. “I mean, I was just talking. But, hey, I got it. It’s hard to do at this level. I just give all credit to the Lord.”
“It’s really hard to get a tripledouble,” Cockburn said. “I asked to come back in the game [with less than two minutes left] just so I could give Ayo his respect.”
D’Mitrik Trice scored 19 points and Nate Reuvers 11 for Wisconsin (14-6, 8-5).
Illinois outrebounded the Badgers 46-18. The Illini shot 54% (28for-52) from the field to Wisconsin’s 41% (24-for-58).
“The way we had shot it offensively, we almost had to pitch a perfect game defensively,” Badgers coach Greg Gard said.
Illinois continued to struggle with turnovers, as it has all season, committing 18 to Wisconsin’s 11. But the Badgers had trouble converting the turnovers to points.
“We got off to a pretty solid start,” Underwood said. “We challenged everything, and we had hands in their faces all afternoon. I’m pleased because [Wisconsin is] as sound and solid as can be.”
Dosunmu’s triple-double was the first by an Illini player since Sergio McClain had 10 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists on Jan. 13, 2001, against Michigan. It was the 11th triple-double in Division I basketball this season.
The Illini won’t play again until they host Northwestern on Feb. 16. Their scheduled game Thursday against Michigan was postponed because of COVID issues in the Wolverines’ program.