Who said college basketball isn't played in quarters?

Illinois broke out 27-12 in the opening 10 minutes, managed 30 points against Ohio State's 54 in the middle 20, and outran the Buckeyes in the stretch, 33-17.

Weird!

Were they hot? That looked like hot to me. Was that hot?

Randy Ayers' Buckeyes, an awful 24 of 89 over a five-year stretch of Big Ten games, drilled 10 consecutive field goals, scored baskets on 13 consecutive possessions late in the first half, and drained five more in the second half to lift their field goal percentage to 74.2 (23 of 31) at that juncture, putting 13,702 Assembly Hall viewers in a catatonic state Wednesday night.

Weirder!

Are two-point baskets out of fashion?

In grinding out a 90-83 verdict, Illinois played the second half with just two two-point field goals – a charging fast break by Jarrod Gee on which he fouled out, and a putback dunk by Chris Gandy. All the other points came on threes (four arc-shots) and free throws (24). Putting it another way, the UI racked 40 second-half points with 12 on treys, 24 on charities and four on regular baskets (the UI's only second-half "points in the paint."

Weirdest!

"It was a game of monumental changes," understated UI coach Lon Kruger. "Ohio State flipped the scales on us by going with a small lineup, doing to us what we've done to others this season. They picked us and got open by taking advantage of our missed assignments, and yet we were able to regroup and make a gutty comeback."

Illini have no defensive answers

Already last in the Big Ten in opponents' field goal percentage, the Illini tried everything to stop the torrid Buckeyes. Opening in a man-to-man defense, Kruger switched to the 3-2 zone that foiled Michigan, then back and forth as the Buckeyes went from lukewarm to "on fire" to unconscious.

Lean Jason Singleton, who had lost his starting assignment, came in for big footballer John Lumpkin and played 36 minutes, garnering 21 points.

Kruger needed a defensive stopper, but was uncertain how much help he could get from Brian Johnson after the junior forward jammed his right knuckles Sunday. But Johnson was the ultimate tide-turner, doing "those little things" and playing huge in the stretch. With two fingers taped together, Johnson was reluctant to shoot, but made two clutch free throws to expand an 80-76 lead to 82-76, and followed that with a steal at the two-minute mark.

"That was a courageous effort," said Kruger. "We needed those.."

Later, Johnson's hand was wrapped in ice as he spoke:

"I was a little skeptical about those free throws. I felt like I was shooting with a stump. I just wanted to get it up and keep it on line, and give it a chance to go in. The spin wasn't real good but they went in."

Garris surpasses Sunderlage

Kiwane Garris went 2 for 12, and yet topped his 20-point average (22) by drilling 17 of 18 free throws. This belongs back up in the weird section.

In so doing, he surpassed the second-oldest record in the UI book, topping the 1951 free throw total of the late Don Sunderlage, the hard-driving guard on two Final Four teams. Sunderlage made 171 free throws. Garris has 178.

How does he do it?

"Kiwane is very aggressive with the basketball off the dribble," said Kruger, "and he has very good command. He can back up and shoot, or back up and drive at you.

"I thought Ohio State did a good job switching with that small lineup. They didn't give him many open looks."

Picking up four free throws on an intentional foul and a technical, Garris had 13 points at the half, but none in the next 14 minutes. That's when he started going to the line again, converting nine free throws in the last 5:42 to maintain a 12-point lead on Andre Woolridge with one game to go in their torrid battle for the Big Ten scoring championship.

Back to the technical. Ayers had every reason to complain as a flying Gandy crammed an offensive putback into the front rim as he tried to jam it, then pulled the rim down with his left hand and dunked the ball with his right.

"I was trying to get my balance, and I grabbed the rim," said Gandy.

"It was a four-point turnaround," said Ayers. "I take the responsibility for my technical. I was just reacting to a non-call that wasn't very good."

Loren Tate writes for The News-Gazette.