Illini Survive

Illini Survive To Title Game
Published March 12, 2005, 3:24 PM CST
There simply was no way top-ranked Illinois would let this game slip away. Playing less than 24 hours after their coach's mother died, the Illini used their defense to beat back a late Minnesota rally and defeat the Golden Gophers 64-56 Saturday to advance to the Big Ten tournament championship game. Luther Head ignited a first-half comeback and led the Illini (31-1) with 14 points, earning him a hug from coach Bruce Weber after the game. Weber's mother, Dawn Weber, died Friday evening after emergency heart surgery. It didn't take long for Weber to get into the game after he choked back tears during a pregame moment of silence. He exhorted his players as always, jawed with officials and stood along the sideline with his hands folded in front of him. With about 27 seconds remaining and the outcome assured, Weber started walking along the scoring table to shake hands with Minnesota coach Dan Monson. He shook hands with every Gopher player, many of whom stopped to speak with him briefly. He got a pat on the back from his center, James Augustine, and then walked with Head to a postgame TV interview. The Illini will face the winner of the Wisconsin-Iowa semifinal in Sunday's championship game. Illinois looked to be in control with 12:04 to go when Head brought the crowd to its feet with a long 3-pointer that put the Illini ahead 49-35. But Illinois missed its next four shots and committed three turnovers over the next five minutes. Minnesota (21-10) stormed back, led by Vincent Grier and Aaron Robinson, who scored all 16 Gopher points during a 16-4 run that cut Illinois' lead to 53-51 with 5:58 remaining. The Illini turned up their defense again and held Minnesota without a field goal in the final 4:05 on the way to their 12th straight win at the United Center. Illinois is now 25-6 at its second home since it opened during the 1994-95 season. Deron Williams scored 12 points for Illinois, Augustine scored 11 points and grabbed 14 rebounds, and Dee Brown and Roger Powell Jr. each scored 10. Grier led the Gophers with 24 points. Robinson had 12 and Jeff Hagen scored 10 points. Illinois was sluggish early. The Illini missed eight of their first 11 shots, committed six turnovers on their way to a season-high 23, and fell behind by as many as seven points in the game's first nine minutes. But a drive to the basket by Williams ignited Illinois. He was fouled and finished a three-point play, starting a 14-0 run that was stoked by a trio of 3-pointers from Head that brought the orange-clad crowd to its feet. His first gave Illinois a 14-13 lead. Minnesota never led again.