Spokesman-Review
National Basketball Association
BOXSCORE | RECAP
Indiana 80, Illinois 64
When: 12:00 PM ET, Friday, March 15, 2013
Where: United Center, Chicago, Illinois
Officials: # Michael Kitts, # Mike Sanzere, # Larry Scirotto
Attendance: 21793

No. 3 Indiana 80, Illinois 64:
Cody Zeller scored 24 points on 9-of-11 shooting and grabbed nine rebounds as the Hoosiers downed the Fighting Illini in the Big Ten quarterfinals in Chicago.

Christian Watford tallied 15 points, Victor Oladipo had 12 points and 11 rebounds and Kevin “Yogi” Ferrell added 12 points for top-seeded Indiana (27-5), which will face Wisconsin in Saturday’s semifinals.

Brandon Paul and Tracy Abrams scored 16 points apiece for eighth-seeded Illinois (22-12), which struggled to 34.5 percent from the field and 5-of-17 from 3-point range. Paul was 2-of-13 shooting after going 10-of-16 while scoring 25 points against Minnesota on Thursday.

The Fighting Illini trailed by double digits most of the contest but used a 9-4 spurt to pull within 60-52 on two free throws by D.J. Richardson with 8:17 to play. Oladipo followed with a basket and Watford drained a 3-pointer as Indiana held off the charge and eventually increased the advantage to 20 on a basket by Ferrell with 1:03 to play.

Indiana led the entire contest, opening the game with a 10-2 run, and the lead reached 26-9 on a layup by Ferrell with 5:50 left in the first half. The Hoosiers led 35-21 at the break.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Indiana outrebounded Illinois 38-26 and had a 26-10 edge in the first half. … Richardson had just nine points on 2-of-10 shooting and went 4-for-22 in two Big Ten tourney games. … The Hoosiers have reached the semifinals for the first time since 2006.
Top Game Performances
 
Indiana   Illinois
Cody Zeller 24 Scoring Tracy Abrams 16
Jordan Hulls 7 Assists Tracy Abrams 2
Victor Oladipo 11 Rebounds Sam McLaurin 7
Christian Watford 7 Free Throws Made Brandon Paul 11
Jordan Hulls 3 Steals Nnanna Egwu 2
Kevin Ferrell 2 Blocks Nnanna Egwu 4
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Points FG% 3PM-3PA FTM-FTA Assists Rebounds Blocks Steals Turnovers
Indiana 80 54.0 5-17 21-24 16 33 6 9 14
Illinois 64 34.5 5-17 19-21 6 20 5 3 12