Illinois vs. UCLA – Men’s College Basketball Game Recap – November 18, 2022 | ESPN

LAS VEGAS — — Terrence Shannon Jr. made 8 of 9 3-pointers and scored 29 factors with 10 rebounds, and No. 19 Illinois rallied from a 15-point deficit to beat No. 8 UCLA 79-70 on Friday night time.

The Illini (4-0) will play No. 16 Virginia in Sunday’s championship recreation of the Continental Tire Fundamental Occasion. UCLA (3-1) faces fifth-ranked Baylor within the comfort recreation.

UCLA led 44-29 early within the second half, and the Bruins have been in entrance by 10 factors when Illinois went on a 22-6 run take a lead it by no means gave again to the delight of a closely pro-Illini crowd.

“I am actually happy with this group,” Illinois coach Brad Underwood stated. “Fifteen down, the eighth-ranked group within the nation, plenty of unknowns, plenty of guys who’ve by no means been there, by no means finished something remotely near what this was about. Now it was a house court docket for us. I’ll say that.”

Shannon, who stated he was “within the zone the entire recreation,” shot 9 of 13 general. Perhaps the one space the place he was struggled was on the free throw line, the place he went 3-for-7. The Texas Tech switch surpassed 1,000 profession factors.

He entered Friday’s recreation as one among 4 gamers nationally to common no less than 22 factors, six rebounds and three assists. Shannon had three assists in opposition to the Bruins.

“He became Steph Curry when he bought right here,” stated Illinois swingman Matt Mayer, who scored 11 factors.

Tyger Campbell scored 22 factors and Jaime Jaquez Jr. had 20 for the Bruins. UCLA led 37-28 at halftime and expanded the result in 15 factors on a 3-pointer by Jaquez lower than two minutes into the second half.

Shannon then made a 3 to jump-start Illinois’ rally, and by the point the Illini have been completed, that they had scored 51 second-half factors.

UCLA coach Mick Cronin stated he wished he had watched the sport “as a fan.” However he in any other case was vital of his group, saying his gamers have been prepared to hold “a banner as a result of we beat Norfolk State.”

“I’ve no optimistic ideas on any participant on UCLA’s efficiency, not one, together with the coach,” Cronin stated.

TIP-INS

Starting in 2024, UCLA-Illinois might be a convention recreation as soon as the Bruins be part of the Massive Ten, until the College of California regents determine in any other case. They meet Dec. 14 to determine whether or not UCLA will be part of the Massive Ten. … That is the primary assembly for the reason that 1996-97 and 1997-98 seasons when the groups break up their conferences, every profitable on its house court docket. … UCLA misplaced for the second time in a row at T-Cell Area. The Bruins additionally misplaced to Arizona 84-76 in final season’s Pac-12 Convention event championship recreation. … Illinois is the Massive Ten’s winningest group over the previous three seasons with a mixed convention file of 44-16.

BIG PICTURE

UCLA: 5 key gamers return from the Bruins group that went 27-8 final season and made the Candy 16 of the NCAA Event. These embody Campbell and Jaquez, who every have greater than 1,000 profession factors and final season have been first-team All-Pac-12. To steadiness out the veterans, the Bruins have six freshmen, together with two McDonald’s All-People.

Illinois: The Illini added eight new gamers after final season, together with three transfers from Energy 5 faculties to go along with a top-10 recruiting class. They needed to make up the distinction from shedding all 5 starters from a group that received the Massive Ten regular-season title. Illinois superior to the second spherical of the NCAA Event every of the previous two seasons.

UP NEXT

The Illini face Virginia for the event title, whereas UCLA performs Baylor in a comfort recreation between groups ranked within the prime 10.

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