March 08--WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -- Before everything went wrong, nothing could have gone better for Illinois.
Illinois dominated Purdue for much of the first half, using a 15-0 run to jump out on the lifeless Boilermakers. The Illini built a 26-13 lead. They held Purdue to single digits for most of the first half.
Then things unraveled. Quickly. And in a devastating fashion.
The Boilermakers closed the first half with an 8-0 run and didn't look back as they stormed back at home for a 63-58 victory.
The loss likely leaves Illinois looking from the outside of the NCAA tournament unless the Illini can put together some surprise wins in the Big Ten tournament.
With the loss, Illinois earned a No. 8 seed for the tournament and will play No. 9 seed Michigan, a team the Illini split games with this season. The winner will play No. 1 Wisconsin at the United Center.
Rayvonte Rice scored 25 points, but he received little help offensively.
The Illini shot only 7 of 30 (23.3 percent) in the second half, while Purdue shot 11 of 21 (52.4 percent).
sryan@tribpub.com
