The Illini fall to no. 1 Volunteers on buzzer-beater

On December 15, 2024By Littum

(WCIA) — Illinois dropped to No. 1 in Tennessee on a buzzer-beater layup to a packed crowd.

The Illini threatened the top team in the country throughout the game and jumped out to an early 8-0 lead. Tennessee led 31-30 at halftime.

Kasparas Jakucionis became the first Illini freshman to score 20+ points in five straight games and finished with 22 points.

Tied at 64 after a pair of split free throws by Jakucionis, Tennessee’s Jordan Gainey took it coast-to-coast and scored as time expired, giving the Volunteers a 66-64 win.

They just flipped it. I should have called the timeout point blank. I should have called the timeout after KJ made the free throw play, timeout, got our defense on and we weren’t quite where we needed to be at 5 seconds. Long time in a game that you know he made the play.

Brad Underwood

Illinois is looking forward to Braggin’ Rights on Sunday, December 22nd at 12 in St. Louis.

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