Terry Towery
Penn State guard Sam Sessoms (3) steals the ball and is pursued by Illinois guard Jacob Grandison (3) and guard Ayo Dosunmu (11) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2021, in Champaign, Ill. (AP Photo/Holly Hart)
Cockburn leads No. 22 Illinois to 79-65 win over Penn State

By Terry Towery Jan. 20, 2021 12:07 AM EST
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) — Kofi Cockburn had 21 points and 12 rebounds, leading No.

Ohio State Head Coach Chris Holtmann looks on from the sideline in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Illinois, Saturday, Jan. 16, 2021, in Champaign, Ill. (AP Photo/Holly Hart)
Liddell, No. 21 Ohio St power past No. 14 Illinois 87-81

By Terry Towery Jan. 16, 2021 04:05 PM EST
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) — E.J. Liddell scored 26 points and No. 21 Ohio State beat

Illinois guard Adam Miller (44) passes the ball as Purdue's guard Brandon Newman (5) and forward Mason Gillis (0) defend in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Jan. 2, 2021, in Champaign, Ill. (AP Photo/Holly Hart)
Cockburn and Dosunmu lead No. 15 Illinois past Purdue 66-58

By Terry Towery Jan. 02, 2021 08:38 PM EST
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) — Kofi Cockburn had 14 points and 10 rebounds, Ayo Dosunmu

Illinois center Kofi Cockburn (21) shoots as Indiana's forward Race Thompson (25) and guard Trey Galloway (32) defend during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Dec. 26, 2020, in Champaign, Ill. (AP Photo/Holly Hart)
Dosunmu scores 30 to lead No. 18 Illinois past Indiana 69-60

By Terry Towery Dec. 26, 2020 06:28 PM EST
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) — Ayo Dosunmu scored 30 points, Kofi Cockburn added 15

Illinois guard Ayo Dosunmu (11) puts up a shot as Minnesota's forward Isaiah Ihnen (35) defends in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Tuesday, Dec. 15, 2020, in Champaign, Ill. (AP Photo/Holly Hart)
Cockburn scores 33 as No. 13 Illinois routs Minnesota 92-65

By Terry Towery Dec. 15, 2020 09:47 PM EST
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) — Kofi Cockburn scored a career-high 33 points and grabbed

Illinois' Ayo Dosunmu (11) shoots as North Carolina's Tyler Maye (11) defends during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Wednesday, Nov. 25, 2020, in Champaign, Ill. (Photo/Holly Hart)
Dosunmu, Miller lead No. 8 Illinois past NC A&T 122-60

By Terry Towery Nov. 25, 2020 04:33 PM EST
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) — Ayo Dosunmu scored a career-high 28 points, freshman

FILE - In this Feb. 18, 2020, file photo, Illinois' Ayo Dosunmu's (11) scores against Penn State in the final minute of an NCAA college basketball game in State College, Pa Watching the shot are Illinois' Kofi Cockburn (21) and Penn State's Seth Lundy (1). The return of stars Dosunmu and Kofi Cockburn has brought a sense of optimism and high expectations to an Illinois program that saw a magical season abruptly halted by the pandemic in March. (AP Photo/Gary M. Baranec, File)
No. 8 Illini return with high expectations behind star duo

By Terry Towery Nov. 10, 2020 05:49 PM EST
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) — They’re back. The return of stars

Iowa's Luca Garza (55) blocks the shot of Illinois' Kofi Cockburn (21) in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Sunday, March 8, 2020, in Champaign, Ill. (AP Photo/Holly Hart)
Dosunmu, No. 23 Illinois hold off No. 18 Iowa 78-76

By Terry Towery Mar. 08, 2020 09:40 PM EDT
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) — The rivalry between Illinois and Iowa is heating up.

Michigan State's Xavier Tillman (23) moves the ball against Illinois' Kofi Cockburn (21) in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game, Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2020, in Champaign, Ill. (AP Photo/Holly Hart)
Dosunmu hurt after Spartans' late dunk; No. 22 Illini fall

By Terry Towery Feb. 11, 2020 11:54 PM EST
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) — Illinois suffered two brutal losses by the final horn

No. 19 Illinois holds on to beat Minnesota 59-51

Terry Towery Jan. 30, 2020 10:10 PM EST
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) — No. 19 Illinois did what it took to move back into a

Illinois' Trent Frazier (1) works the ball vs Northwestern in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Saturday, Jan. 18, 2020, in Champaign, Ill. (AP Photo/Holly Hart)
No. 24 Illinois hangs on to beat Northwestern 75-71

By Terry Towery Jan. 18, 2020 07:39 PM EST
CHAMPAIGN, Ill, (AP) — As Illinois coach Brad Underwood watched Northwestern

Illinois' Alan Griffin (0) holds on to the ball as he is pressured by Purdue's Matt Harms (32) in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Sunday, Jan. 5, 2020, in Champaign, Ill. (AP Photo/Holly Hart)
Griffin's double-double helps Illinois beat Purdue 63-37

Terry Towery Jan. 05, 2020 10:21 PM EST
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) — Sophomore Alan Griffin has been a crowd favorite in

Cockburn powers Illinois past North Carolina A&T 95-64

By Terry Towery Dec. 29, 2019 04:31 PM EST
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) — Kofi Cockburn scored a career-high 26 points and

Illinois' Ayo Dosunmu (11) has the ball knocked loose by Michigan's Zavier Simpson (3) and Colin Castletown (11) in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2019, in Champaign, Ill. (AP Photo/Holly Hart)
Kofi Cockburn helps Illinois upset No. 5 Michigan 71-62

By Terry Towery Dec. 11, 2019 11:58 PM EST
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) — Kofi Cockburn got Michigan coach Juwan Howard’s

Miami holds off furious comeback to beat Illinois 81-79

By Terry Towery Dec. 02, 2019 10:57 PM EST
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) — Chris Lykes scored 28 points and Miami held off a

Miami holds off furious Illinois comeback to win 81-79

By Terry Towery Dec. 02, 2019 10:12 PM EST
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) — Chris Lykes scored 28 points and Miami held off a

Dosunmu scores 24 to led Illinois past Lindenwood 117-65

By Terry Towery Nov. 26, 2019 10:32 PM EST
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) — Ayo Dosunmu scored 24 points, five others scored in

Cockburn's double-double powers Illinois past Hampton 120-71

By Terry Towery Nov. 23, 2019 10:38 PM EST
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) — Kofi Cockburn and Ayo Dosunmu scored 20 points apiece

Cockburn’s double-double lifts Illini over The Citadel 85-57

By Terry Towery Nov. 20, 2019 11:35 PM EST
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) — Kofi Cockburn scored 18 points and grabbed 17 rebounds

Cockburn double-double helps Illinois turn back Hawaii 66-53

By Terry Towery Nov. 18, 2019 10:43 PM EST
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) — When the season started, Illinois fans were hoping to