Morning Box Score: Illini Lose Thriller

By Matt Motyka in News on Mar 6, 2009 3:50PM

No. 23 Illinois surrendered to the Penn State Nittany Lions on Thursday, losing 64-63. Leading by a point with eight seconds to play, Illinois’ Mike Davis came up short on the front end of a one-and-one, and Penn State’s Talor Battle took it the length of the court for the game-winning basket. Battle’s heroic shot capped a 9-0 run for the Nittany Lions, who held Illinois scoreless for the final 3:30 of the contest. The Illini—coming off back-to-back losses to end the regular season—hope to right their ship in the Big Ten tourney next Friday.