Liddell, No. 21 Ohio St power past No. 14 Illinois 87-81

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)

Illinois center Kofi Cockburn (21) is pressured by Ohio State's guard Duane Washington Jr. (4), forward Kyle Young (25) and forward E.J. Liddell (32) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Jan. 16, 2021, in Champaign, Ill. (AP Photo/Holly Hart)

Illinois guard Jacob Grandison (3) passes the ball with help from teammate forward Giorgi Bezhanishvili (15) as Ohio State's forward Seth Towns (31), center Zed Key (23) and forward Justin Ahrens (10) defend during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Jan. 16, 2021, in Champaign, Ill. (AP Photo/Holly Hart)