San Diego Union-Tribune (Sunday)
DOSUNMU PLAYS LIKE SUPERHERO
After missing three games with a concussion and facial injuries, Illinois star Ayo Dosunmu returned Saturday wearing a protective mask he chose because it makes him look a little like a superhero.
Dosunmu played the part with a 19-point performance, and the No. 4 Illini rallied late to beat reeling No. 7 Ohio State 73-68 in Columbus, Ohio.
“They gave me different options of masks to wear, and I thought this was the best mask for me,” he said of the protective covering over his broken nose and upper face. “I’m into comic books and stuff. I feel like a superhero with a black mask on.”
Andre Curbelo matched Dosunmu’s 19, and Illinois (20-6, 16-4) got its second straight road win over a top 10 team after routing No. 2 Michigan on Tuesday. The Illini have won 11 of 12 and enter this week’s Big Ten Tournament with a doublebye.
“What a week,” Illinois coach Brad Underwood said. “That’s a tough, tough, tough group of guys in that locker room.”
E.J. Liddell led the Buckeyes (18-8, 12-8) with 19 points, and Duane Washington Jr. and Justice Sueing each had 15 for Ohio State, which finished the regular season with four straight losses, three against Top 10 teams.
No. 17 Oklahoma State 85, No. 6 West Virginia: Sophomore Avery Anderson
No. 4 Illinois 73, No. 7 Ohio State 68
III scored a career-high 31 points to lead the visiting Cowboys (18-7, 11-7) over the Mountaineers (18-8, 11-6) in their Big 12 regular-season finale.
No. 8 Alabama 89, Georgia 79: Herbert Jones had two baskets in a 9-0 run to open the second half as the visiting Crimson Tide (21-6, 16-2) matched its school record for Southeastern Conference wins by beating the Bulldogs (14-11, 7-11).
Providence 54, No. 10 Villanova 52: David Duke made a tiebreaking tip-in with 2.8 seconds left as the host Friars (13-12, 9-10 Big East) held on after blowing a 20-point lead against the Wildcats (16-5, 11-4).
Notre Dame 83, No. 11 Florida State 73: Prentiss Hubb scored 22 points and Dane Goodwin had 15 as the host Fighting Irish (1014, 7-11 ACC) beat a ranked team in the Seminoles (15-5, 11-4) for the first time over three years.
No. 12 Arkansas 87, Texas A&M 80: Moses Moody scored 28 points, Jalen Tate added 22 and the host Razorbacks (21-5, 13-4) beat the Aggies (8-9, 2-8) to match the program’s longest Southeastern Conference winning streak at 11 games.
No. 14 Creighton 93, Butler 73: Marcus Zegarowski matched his career high with 32 points and the host Blue Jays (18-7, 14-6 Big East) closed a difficult week off the court with a victory over the Bulldogs (9-14,