Hawkins, Illinois win, hold No. 24 Rutgers scoreless for 10 minutes

Hawkins, Illinois win, hold No. 24 Rutgers scoreless for 10 minutes

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) — Coleman Hawkins scored 18 points and Illinois held No. 24 Rutgers scoreless for more than 10 minutes in the second half, rallying for a 69-60 win Saturday. The Illinois (17-7, 8-5 Big Ten) trailed 47-41 with 14 1/2 minutes left before Hawkins’ 3-pointer started a 19-0 run. Rutgers (16-9, 8-6) missed…

Illini women use big second half run to top Nebraska 72-64

Illini women use big second half run to top Nebraska 72-64

LINCOLN, Neb. — The Illinois women’s basketball team used a 20-0 second half run to push past Nebraska Thursday night 72-64. The Illini (19-6 overall, 9-5 Big Ten) lost starting guard Genesis Bryant to injury in the first quarter, but Jayla Oden played well off the bench in Bryant’s absence, scoring 12 points and adding…

LeBron James breaks the NBA career scoring record, passing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

LeBron James breaks the NBA career scoring record, passing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

LOS ANGELES — LeBron James has now scored more points than any NBA player in history, as he passed fellow Los Angeles Laker Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s career 38,387 points on Tuesday night in front of an enthusiastic home crowd. The record came near the end of the third quarter, when James hit a fadeaway jumper. It’s…

Basketball player making layup

Illinois women top Minnesota for highest win total in ten years, 69-62

CHAMPAIGN — The last time the Illinois women’s basketball team won 18 games, Barack Obama had just started his second term as president. The Fighting Illini matched that total with a 69-62 win over Minnesota on Sunday in front of 4,533 fans at State Farm Center in Champaign. Makira Cook led Illinois with 21 points,…

Illinois pulls away midway through 2nd, beats Nebraska 72-56

Illinois pulls away midway through 2nd, beats Nebraska 72-56

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) — Matthew Mayer scored 16 points to lead four in double figures as Illinois beat Nebraska 72-56 on Tuesday night. Illinois (16-6, 7-4 Big Ten) has won seven of its last eight games while Nebraska (10-13, 3-9) has lost four straight. The Illini are now in second place in the conference, just…

Bryant hits key 3, No. 21 Illini women hold off Northwestern

Bryant hits key 3, No. 21 Illini women hold off Northwestern

EVANSTON, Ill. (AP) — Genesis Bryant hit a clutch 3-pointer with 18.8 seconds left and scored 18 points, Kendall Bostic had a double-double, and No. 21 Illinois held off Northwestern 67-64 in a wild finish on Sunday. Makira Cook added 14 points, including two free throws with two seconds, left as the Illini (16-4, 6-3…