High note in down season for Illini
CHAMPAIGN -- Almost everything Illinois fans have come to expect -- NCAA Tournament bids, 20-plus-win seasons, contending for Big Ten titles -- has either come to a sudden halt this season or will, barring a miraculous run at next week's Big Ten tournament.
Then there's Minnesota.
Some things never change, not even during a year the Illini will set a school record for losses with their next defeat.
Illinois' 19th straight win over the Golden Gophers -- the longest streak for any Big Ten team over another -- allowed seniors Brian Randle, Shaun Pruitt and walk-on Chris Hicks to enjoy their final game at Assembly Hall.
Hicks put the final touches on a 67-58 win with a 3-pointer at the buzzer. Randle and Pruitt didn't score much, but they combined for 20 rebounds to pace Illinois' 45-19 advantage.
Juniors Trent Meacham and Calvin Brock picked up the scoring slack with 21 and 17 points, respectively, giving Illinois a boost heading into the conference tournament. The 10th-seeded Illini open at 1:30 p.m. Thursday against No. 7 seed -- either Iowa, Penn State or Michigan.
"I don't know what it is. I guess our guys are just pretty intimidated by the Illini," said Minnesota coach Tubby Smith. "We knew what Meacham could do, but we lost him quite a bit."
Randle, a fifth-year senior who has battled injuries and foul trouble seemingly his entire five-year career, needed only 17 seconds to record his first foul. He finished with 4 points but filled up the stat sheet with a season-high 12 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 blocks on an emotional day.
"I woke up and almost had a panic attack," said Randle. "Lot of anxiety. I grabbed a stick of gum. That's when I know I'm nervous. I chomped on that for 45 minutes and calmed my nerves."
Illinois (13-18, 5-13) led 27-26 at halftime. Pruitt's first basket gave him 1,000 points for his career -- the 41st player in Illinois history to reach that plateau -- though he only played five first-half minutes because of foul trouble.
Illinois coach Bruce Weber screamed, "Don't worry about the fouls" at Pruitt as he took the court to start the second half. He didn't, hit a couple of free throws for a 31-27 lead, then watched Meacham take over.
Meacham scored 18 of his points in the second half. He hit a pair of 3s to help Illinois open up its largest lead at 43-32.
Minnesota (18-12, 8-10) never caught up. The Gophers pulled within 46-45, then Pruitt found a cutting Brock for a reverse layup. With Illinois ahead 49-47, Meacham hit 2 free throws and then another 3.
"You wish seniors could go out and get double-doubles (on senior day), but it doesn't always happen," Weber said. "Trent really shot the ball well."
Meacham scored his 21 points on only 9 shots from the field. He hit 4 of 5 from beyond the arc.
"It's been a tough year and we've been fighting and needed a lift," Meacham said. "It was nice to send these guys out on a good note. Whatever I could do to help I wanted to do that."