PITTSBURGH — Alfonso Plummer scored 15 factors, together with the go-ahead free throws with 12 seconds to go, and fourth-seeded Illinois escaped Thirteenth-seeded Chattanooga 54-53 within the first spherical of the NCAA Event on Friday.

The Massive Ten co-champion Illini (23-9) by no means led till the ultimate minute and survived when Chattanooga star Malachi Smith missed twice within the closing seconds. His runner within the lane was swatted by Illinois’ Coleman Hawkins and his pull-up jumper simply earlier than the clock expired clanged off the rim.

Illinois will play both fifth-seeded Houston or Twelfth-seeded UAB on Sunday in a South Area second-round recreation.

Illinois All-America heart Kofi Cockburn had 17 factors, 13 rebounds and 4 blocks. His putback gave the Illini a 52-51 lead with 48 seconds to go. Smith, the Southern Convention Participant of the 12 months, responded by drilling a pair of free throws to place Chattanooga again in entrance.

Plummer, who hit three 3-pointers to assist Illinois climb again from an 11-point second-half deficit, drove the left facet and was fouled. He knocked down each photographs. Chattanooga, with Professional Soccer Corridor of Fame alum Terrell Owens urging the Mocs on, declined to name timeout.

The ball ended up in Smith’s arms twice, however in contrast to their thriller within the Southern Convention Event closing – which ended with a game-winning 30-foot heave by David Jean-Baptiste – there could be no last-second heroics.

Chattanooga’s try to win its first recreation within the match since 1997 – when it was a 14 seed and knocked off Illinois on the way in which to the Candy 16 – ended when Hawkins grabbed his eighth and closing rebound.

Chattanooga coach Lamont Paris promised to throw a number of our bodies at Cockburn in an effort to maintain the 7-footer in verify. It labored early, because the Mocs harassed him almost each time down the ground.

It led to a number of pushing, a number of shoving and – for some time – a number of fouls. Josh Ayeni and Silvio De Sousa every drew three whistles within the first half alone. Cockburn struggled to take benefit, lacking 5 of 8 free throws early earlier than he and the Illini began to get right into a rhythm after the Mocs have been pressured to go small.

Chattanooga led by as a lot as 12 however Illinois closed the half on a 13-6 surge, with six of the factors coming from Cockburn, who set free a scream at one level after swatting a layup try by Darius Banks.

The Mocs recovered to take a 40-29 lead early within the second half however a 10-0 run by the Illini – fueled by a pair of 3-pointers by Plummer – arrange a taut if not precisely fairly closing 10 minutes.