Spokesman-Review
National Basketball Association
BOXSCORE | RECAP
Minnesota 77, Illinois 72
When: 8:00 PM ET, Saturday, January 28, 2012
Where: Williams Arena, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Officials: # Bill Elk, # Lamont Simpson, # Terry Wymer
Attendance: 14625

Austin Hollins scored 14 points to lead Minnesota to a 77-72 overtime victory over visiting Illinois on Saturday.

Minnesota (16-6, 4-5 Big Ten) picked up its fourth win in the last five games and gained a split of the season series with the Fighting Illini.

Illinois (15-6, 4-4) has lost three in a row for only the seventh time in coach Bruce Weber’s nine years.

Austin and Andre Hollins – no relation – exploded down the stretch for the Golden Gophers. Austin Hollins scored and drew the foul on a scoop shot in the lane, knocking down the ensuing foul shot to tie the game at 64 with four seconds left to force overtime. Andre Hollins converted on a similar play to put Minnesota ahead by seven points in the extra session and finished with 12 points off the bench.

Brandon Paul paced the Fighting Illini with 28 points and nine rebounds. He buried an arcing 3-pointer in the dying seconds of overtime to bring Illinois to within three points.

Illinois 7-footer Meyers Leonard scored 17 points and grabbed 13 rebounds, his seventh double-double of the season, before fouling out in the closing seconds of regulation.

Minnesota got a huge effort from its reserves. Backup guard Chip Armelin scored 14 points, part of a 39-point effort from the Golden Gophers' bench.

Illinois struggled from beyond the arc in the second half, going 0 for 8 from outside and finishing 3 for 21.

Rodney Williams made the highlight reels with a huge follow-up dunk off a free throw miss in the final minute. Joe Coleman chipped in with 11 points for Minnesota.

Illinois has played in six straight games decided by five points or less.
Top Game Performances
 
Illinois   Minnesota
Brandon Paul 28 Scoring Chip Armelin 14
Tracy Abrams 4 Assists Maverick Ahanmisi 3
Meyers Leonard 13 Rebounds Chip Armelin 7
Brandon Paul 9 Free Throws Made Joe Coleman 5
Brandon Paul 2 Steals Andre Hollins 3
Meyers Leonard 4 Blocks Elliott Eliason 1
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Points FG% 3PM-3PA FTM-FTA Assists Rebounds Blocks Steals Turnovers
Illinois 72 40.3 3-21 19-29 12 36 7 7 16
Minnesota 77 46.3 6-18 21-33 18 34 2 10 14