Second Round Recap – Atlanta Region
(5) Illinois 92, (4) Cincinnati 68
So much for a classic No. 4-5 game, as the Fighting Illini jumped out early and never looked back, coasting to a 92-68 win and a berth in the Sweet Sixteen. Illinois shot 64 percent for the game, went 11-of-19 from beyond the three-point line and led by double digits for the final 30 minutes of the game. In other words, the Bearcats were never in it. In a game filled with more than the average amount of trash talk, the Illini got the final word in. Deron Williams had a career night, scoring 31 points while missing only three of thirteen shots from the field. Dee Brown finished with fourteen points and eight assists and Roger Powell added 22 points. The win was the first in Illinois’ history against a team with a higher seed, while for Cincinnati it was the eighth loss in the last nine years against a team with a lower seed.
Illinois went on a decisive 12-2 run midway through the first half that ballooned its lead to fifteen and deflated the Bearcats. From there the Illini kept Cincinnati at bay by hitting shot after shot after shot. The Bearcats tried to claw back and held an advantage on the glass, 34-21, but even that was misleading. They collected twelve more offensive rebounds than the Illini, but it didn’t matter because Illinois rarely had a chance to go after any offensive rebounds since they kept hitting. Field Williams led Cincinnati with sixteen points and Tony Bobbitt finished with fifteen, as both shooting guards concluded their college careers. The two shot 7-of-15 from beyond the arc, but were no match for backcourt combination of Brown and Williams. Illinois will now move on to Atlanta where it will face No. 1 seed Duke, Friday night. Last season, both teams lost in the regional semifinals.
