Hoosiers crush Illini, inch closer to Big Ten Title
By TYLER SMITH
ISL Editor 
CHAMPAIGN, IL — After a big win over rival Purdue, and upcoming dates with Iowa and Maryland, it would have been very easy for the Indiana Hoosiers to overlook Illinois. But with a Big Ten title in their sights, the Hoosiers once again steam-rolled the Fighting Illini by a final score of 74-47 at the State Farm Center.
Illinois started the game on a 12-4 run. The Hoosiers weathered the storm after that, but still trailed 28-27 at halftime. In the second half, it was a completely different story. Indiana outscored the Illini 47-19 in the final 20 minutes.
Senior guard Yogi Ferrell matched the entire Illinois team with 19 second half points. He finished with 27 points to lead Indiana on the night.
“I hope people see how valuable he (Ferrell) is,” Coach Tom Crean said. “He deserves it. I’m very proud of how he continues to improve and how he continues to lead.”
Illinois coach John Groce definitely sees that value: “Yogi Ferrell just took the game over. You hear his voice constantly. He’s tremendous on both ends of the floor. I have great admiration for him. I thought he was an absolute monster, and that’s what leadership looks like from an upperclassmen.”
Indiana connected on just 3-of-15 from behind the arc in the first half. They made 10-of-17 from three in the second half.
The Hoosiers defense was also impressive in this game. They held Illini guard Malcolm Hill to a season low five points, and held Illinois to just 39% shooting for the game.
Freshman Thomas Bryant scored 14 points, including the first seven points of the second half. When the Hoosiers started playing through the bigs, it opened things up for the shooters. “We don’t have to score in the paint, but the ball has to go through there,” Crean said. “That’s our recipe for success, and we did that in the second half.”
In the season series between these two teams, the Hoosiers outscored the Illini 177-116.
With just two games to play in conference season, Indiana can win at least a share of the Big Ten Title by winning one more game. Even if the Hoosiers lose in Iowa next week, they’ll still have a shot to win the Big Ten on senior night against Maryland.
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