Feb. 14--Nothing about this was pretty.
Illinois led Northwestern 23-21 at halftime on Saturday night in Evanston, surviving a 29 percent shooting effort to stay ahead.
The Illini made only 3 of 15 2-point shots (5 of 13 on 3-pointers) and managed just four points in the paint. Northwestern suffered through 10 turnovers and just 2 of 11 shooting on 3-pointers.
Freshmen D.J. Williams and Jalen Coleman-Lands led the Illini with six points apiece, connecting on a combined 4 of 5 3-pointers.
Scottie Lindsey led the Wildcats with eight points.
Illinois and Northwestern's in-state rivlary game doesn't have much riding on it.
Both teams are expected to miss the NCAA tournament and are trying to avoid the Wednesday opening games in the Big Ten tournament for the lowest seeds.
The Illini (11-13, 3-8 Big Ten), coming off a bye week, have lost three of the last four games. Illinois has won back-to-back road games, beating Big Ten bottom-dwellers Minnesota and Rutgers on the road in overtime games.
The Wildcats (16-9, 4-8) are trying to work their way out of a slump that includes six losses in seven games.
