EVANSTON — Somewhere along the way, Bruce Weber's Illinois basketball team had misplaced its identity.

Some of the outside pressures had rattled their cages, so they returned to what they know best: hoopin'. Much of the roster stayed after practice during the week to play 3-on-3 pickup games. That competitive streak, no matter the stage, will have to be their identity.

In some ways Wednesday's 57-56 win against Northwestern got them back to their initial identity: that of a hard-working, scrappy group that won't take losing for an answer.

The flaws are evident and will be discussed ad nauseam. Weber pointed out the most obvious and damaging of them — "We're not a great passing team," putting it kindly — after the Illini (13-3, 2-1 Big Ten) escaped in the final seconds to snap a rare two-game losing skid at Welsh-Ryan Arena.

But they are working to fix and mask those flaws, sometimes by implementing new rules.

"We had an 'out standing rule' tonight," Weber said afterward. "If you are caught out standing on the court, you're going to be running tomorrow."

Still, and this will have to be their M.O. in a Big Ten season filled with close calls, the Illini clawed their way to a win despite their imperfections. Someone made the play that had to be made. This time it was Meyers Leonard, whose 7-foot frame and similar wingspan stretched to the rafters to block the shot of Drew Crawford with one second left.

If the shot had gone in — oh, goodness — who knows the direction this season would have gone. But Leonard got it done, puffed out his chest, and the Illini stayed on track, avoiding a loss that could be held against them down the road.

"I read it. I pretty much knew it was coming," said Leonard, who leads the Big Ten with 38 blocks. "I just got up and got the block."

There will be grumbling with how Wednesday's game was won. Illinois had to overcome a 10-point deficit and nearly blew an eight-point lead in the final two minutes. But the smile on Nnanna Egwu's face and the giddy locker room told a different story.

It's a team that doesn't know the difference between a shaky win and a blowout. To them, if not to everyone else, both count the same.

"We made it a little tough on ourselves," said Egwu, who offered nine points off the bench. "We know we have to get better. But it still feels good. It's a road win."

The result also served as a reminder to play nice with the refs. Illinois appeared to be the beneficiary of a pair of late-game, 50-50 calls, most notably a potential offensive foul that wasn't whistled. Crawford seemed to be in solid defensive position to draw a foul on Brandon Paul, but the whistle never blew. Illinois regained possession, and Myke Henry hit 1 of 2 foul shots to help seal the win.

"I was just trying to make a play. I'm not really sure (if it was a charge), actually," said Drew, the son of veteran NBA official Danny Crawford, who steered clear of questioning the officiating. "I'll see it on tape and then I'll make a decision."

Hey, everyone needs a break every now and then, especially when trying to secure a coveted road win.

"It's been a little agonizing up here the last couple years," said Weber, whose team had lost on five straight trips to Welsh-Ryan Arena and the United Center.