KOFI COCKBURN

Kyler Edwards added 15 points for Houston, a team often overlooked but making major noise again this March. With Houston's fans chanting “Sweet 16, Sweet 16” in the final seconds, Edwards dropped one last 3-pointer and seconds later lifted Moore, another of Houston's transfers, off the floor. The fourth-seeded Fighting Illini (23-10) were determined to go farther after being bumped by Loyola Chicago last year, but couldn't get past the second round again. Down by 12 in the first half, Illinois battled back and was within 56-49 after Alfonso Plummer's four-point play. Houston opened a 12-point lead, and Illinois was reeling.

Taze Moore scored 21 points, Jamal Shead added 18 and Houston, a Final Four team last season, advanced to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament with a 68-53 win over Illinois.

Illinois suffered another first-weekend exit from the NCAA Tournament, turning in a dismal shooting performance in a 68-53 loss to Houston.

NCAA Chattanooga Illinois Basketball Illinois' Kofi Cockburn dunks against Chattanooga during the first half of a college basketball game in the first round of the NCAA tournament, Friday, March 18, 2022, in Pittsburgh. The Big Ten co-champion Illini (23-9) never led until the final minute and survived when Chattanooga star Malachi Smith missed twice in the closing seconds. Smith, the Southern Conference Player of the Year, responded by drilling a pair of free throws to put Chattanooga back in front. Chattanooga, with Pro Football Hall of Fame alum Terrell Owens urging the Mocs on, declined to call timeout. Chattanooga coach Lamont Paris promised to throw multiple bodies at Cockburn in an effort to keep the 7-footer in check.

Alfonso Plummer scored 15 points, including the go-ahead free throws with 12 seconds to go, and fourth-seeded Illinois escaped 13th-seeded Chattanooga 54-53 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

Loyola-Chicago plays Ohio State in one of the top matchups on the second full day of the NCAA Tournament.

College basketball guru, Scott Gleeson, gives us his predictions on who he thinks will end up in the Final Four of the 2022 NCAA Tournament.

Keegan Murray has given Iowa a first-team Associated press All-American for the third straight year.

B10 Indiana Illinois Basketball Indiana forward Trayce Jackson-Davis (23) drives on Illinois center Kofi Cockburn (21) in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game at the Big Ten Conference tournament in Indianapolis, Friday, March 11, 2022. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy) (Michael Conroy)INDIANAPOLIS — (AP) — Trayce Jackson-Davis scored 21 points, including three free throws in the closing seconds, and Indiana beat top-seeded and 16th-ranked Illinois 65-63 on Friday in the Big Ten Tournament quarterfinals. Jackson-Davis knocked down two free throws with 26.1 seconds left to put the Hoosiers ahead 64-63. Jackson-Davis then made the first of two free throws with 1.7 seconds to go. Hawkins made two free throws to put the Illini back ahead, but all they could muster after that were four free throws from Cockburn.

Trayce Jackson-Davis scored 21 points, including three free throws in the closing seconds, and Indiana beat top-seeded and 16th-ranked Illinois 65-63 in the Big Ten Tournament quarterfinals.

Wisconsin’s Johnny Davis is The Associated Press player of the year in the Big Ten Conference and the Badgers’ Greg Gard is coach of the year.

No. 20 Illinois locked up a share of the Big Ten regular-season title when Kofi Cockburn had 21 points and 14 rebounds to lead a 74-72 win over No. 24 Iowa.

Illinois Maryland Basketball Maryland guard Hakim Hart, center, drops a dunk in front of Illinois Fighting guard Trent Frazier (1) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Friday, Jan. 21, 2022, in College Park, Md. — (AP) — Donta Scott scored a career-high 25 points and Maryland took advantage of Kofi Cockburn's absence in an 81-65 victory over No. Cockburn was out with a concussion, and the Illini (13-5, 6-2 Big Ten) lost for the second consecutive game after winning six straight. Alfonso Plummer scored 18 points for Illinois, which was coming off a double-overtime loss to No. ___Follow Noah Trister at https://twitter.com/noahtrister___More AP college basketball: http://apnews.com/Collegebasketball and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25Copyright 2022 The Associated Press.

Donta Scott scored a career-high 25 points and Maryland took advantage of Kofi Cockburn’s absence in an 81-65 victory over No. 17 Illinois.

Sasha Stefanovic scored 22 points, including a go-ahead 3 at the start of double overtime that sent No. 4 Purdue over No. 17 Illinois 96-88.

Kofi Cockburn scored a career-high 38 points to lead No. 14 Illinois to a hard-fought 94-85 win over Texas Rio Grande Valley on Friday night. Illinois (4-2) started slowly, trailing the Vaqueros by as many as 12 points in the first half. Timely buckets from Cockburn and Alfonso Plummer, a transfer guard from Utah, helped the Illini go on a 15-5 run to take a one-point lead at the half.

The Associated Press preseason All-American is set to play his first game Nov. 22 against Cincinnati in Kansas City, Missouri, according to the school's announcement Monday. The 7-foot center will miss the 11th-ranked Illini's first two home games, Nov. 9 against Jackson State and Nov. 12 against Arkansas State, as well as a Nov. 15 game against Marquette in the Gavitt Tipoff Games. The suspension is required as part of the reinstatement process that was triggered because Cockburn sold institutionally issued apparel and memorabilia in June, the university said. The state of Illinois and the NCAA enacted new name, image and likeness legislation on July 1 that would have made these sales permissible. In addition to the missed games, Cockburn will repay the amount generated from selling apparel by making a donation to a charity of his choice.

The NCAA has suspended Illinois center Kofi Cockburn for the first three games of the season because he sold apparel and memorabilia before new regulations that allow athletes to participate in money-making ventures went into effect.

Preseason All-America Basketball FILE - These are 2020 and 2021 file photos showing, from left; Illinois' Kofi Cockburn, Villanova's Collin Gillespie, Indiana's Trayce Jackson-Davis, UCLA's Johnny Juzang and Gonzaga's Drew Timme. Drew Timme of Gonzaga is the lone unanimous selection on The Associated Press preseason All-America NCAA college basketball team, announced Monday, Oct. 25, 2021. He was joined by Illinois big man Kofi Cockburn, UCLA guard Johnny Juzang, Villanova point guard Collin Gillespie and Indiana forward Trayce Jackson-Davis. There was an added benefit, too: Timme was the lone unanimous selection by a 63-person media panel on The Associated Press preseason All-America team released Monday. The 7-foot center averaged 17.7 points and 9.5 rebounds per game as a sophomore last season to earn a second-team spot on the AP All-America team.

Preseason All-America Basketball FILE - These are 2020 and 2021 file photos showing, from left; Illinois' Kofi Cockburn, Villanova's Collin Gillespie, Indiana's Trayce Jackson-Davis, UCLA's Johnny Juzang and Gonzaga's Drew Timme. Drew Timme of Gonzaga is the lone unanimous selection on The Associated Press preseason All-America NCAA college basketball team, announced Monday, Oct. 25, 2021. (AP Photo/File) (Uncredited)Drew Timme could have left for the NBA after leading Gonzaga into last season's national title game. There was an added benefit, too: Timme was the lone unanimous selection by a 63-person media panel on The Associated Press preseason All-America team released Monday. The 7-foot center averaged 17.7 points and 9.5 rebounds per game as a sophomore last season to earn a second-team spot on the AP All-America team.

Drew Timme of Gonzaga is the lone unanimous selection on The Associated Press preseason All-America team.

Big Ten Media Days Basketball Players and coaches address the media during the first day of the Big Ten NCAA college basketball media days, Thursday, Oct. 7, 2021, in Indianapolis. “This is my first basketball media day," said Big Ten Commissioner Kevin Warren, now in his third year on the job. “I was a college basketball player. Now it's time to see if the altered landscape will change the projected pecking order in a vastly different season. ___More AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/College-basketball and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25Copyright 2021 The Associated Press.

Big Ten basketball entered a whole new world when it returned to Indianapolis for the first of two media days.

(AP Photo/Robert Franklin)COLUMBUS, Ohio – Ohio State star E.J. Liddell says he'll continue speaking out against social-media users who direct racist, abusive and threatening messages at him and other athletes. “I just wanted to use my voice a little bit,” Liddell said Wednesday in a video call with reporters. And that’s not OK.”AdLiddell said he hadn't considered dropping off social media because with all the pandemic-related restrictions on where players could go and who they could see, social media was their link to the outside world. “If you really think about it, this year social media is our social life,” he said.

(AP Photo/Paul Sancya)The Latest on the first round of the NCAA Tournament (all times Eastern):___6:50 p.m.Another first-round upset as 12th-seeded Oregon State defeated No. 9 seed Georgia Tech 71-60 on Friday to mark a triumphant return to the NCAA Tournament. Senior guard Bubba Parham, who is 5-10, got the start instead as Georgia Tech went with a guard-heavy look. AdIllinois will face eighth-seeded Loyola Chicago or ninth-seeded Georgia Tech in the second round of the Midwest Regional on Sunday. Ad___2:10 p.m.Players from several NCAA Tournament teams took a knee during the playing of the national anthem before their first-round games.

(AP Photo/Chuck Burton, File)Gonzaga and Baylor spent almost the entire season holding down the top two spots in the Top 25. Makes sense they'd hold down a bunch of spots on The Associated Press All-America teams. The Bulldogs' Corey Kispert and the Bears' Jared Butler led the way with first-team nods Tuesday from the national panel of 63 media members that vote each week in the AP Top 25 poll. Just like the first- and second-team All-Americans, their teams also will be playing in the NCAA Tournament this week. ___AP Basketball Writer John Marshall and AP Sports Writers Michael Marot and Stephen Hawkins contributed to this report.

As the Fighting Illini celebrated their first Big Ten Tournament title since 2005 with a 91-88 overtime victory over No. 9 Ohio State on Sunday, they quickly turned the focus to their No. Instead of withering in their fourth game in four days and being without forward Kyle Young for the second consecutive game, Ohio State (21-9) continually fought back. BIG PICTUREOhio State: They didn't win the title but the fifth-seeded Buckeyes overperformed expectations. ALL-TOURNEY TEAMAdDosunmu and Cockburn were joined on the all-tournament team by Washington and Liddell from Ohio State and Iowa’s Luka Garza, the league’s player of the year.

(AP Photo/Michael Conroy)INDIANAPOLIS – Illinois center Kofi Cockburn learned some hard lessons dueling with Luka Garza as a freshman. The victory sends the Illini to the Big Ten Tournament championship game. They made themselves at home, cheering loudly each time Cockburn made a play, while booing the foul calls against Illinois. A 9-0 run midway through the first half gave Illinois a 22-14 lead that it never surrendered. BIG PICTUREIowa: The Hawkeyes won't go away quietly in the NCAA Tournament, as Illinois found out Saturday.

Michigan can still wrap that up with a win in either of its last two regular-season games — or if Illinois loses its last game this weekend. The Wolverines are scheduled to play three fewer games than Illinois, and the size of this blowout — without Dosunmu — will resonate. Illinois could certainly pass Michigan as well after this game, but the Illini still have four more losses than the Wolverines. Plus, both Michigan and Illinois have more tests to come before the next poll. Michigan: The Wolverines finish the regular season with a home-and-home series against rival Michigan State, starting Thursday night in Ann Arbor.

After Illinois’ Trent Frazier sank two free throws, Illinois fouled Trevor Anderson with 1.9 seconds left before Wisconsin could attempt a tying 3-pointer. Wisconsin took 17 more shots than Illinois in the first half but still trailed 37-26 at the break because the Illini were much more efficient. AdIllinois cooled off considerably in the second half, but Wisconsin also faltered up until Trice's surge in the final minutes. Illinois led by 14 in the second half before Trice got Wisconsin back into the game. The Illini nearly crumbled down the stretch but stayed in front by going 10 of 10 on foul shots in the final 44 seconds.

Trent Frazier scored 22 points for Illinois, whose star players weren't as productive as usual against a suddenly stingy defense. Michigan State: Hall of Fame Coach Tom Izzo hasn't missed the NCAA Tournament since 1997. They shot 24% and were held to 26 points in the first half at Michigan State before shooting better and scoring more in the second half. POLL IMPLICATIONSThe Illini, who haven't won at Michigan State since 2015, will likely slip in the AP Top 25 after getting upset as a seven-point favorite. Michigan State: Hosts Ohio State on Thursday night.

13 Illinois past Minnesota 92-65 in the Big Ten opener for both teams Tuesday night. Freshman guard Adam Miller added 14 points, while Trent Frazier and Ayo Dosunmu each scored 10 for Illinois (5-2). The previous high for Cockburn was 26 points against North Carolina A&T last December. “Big Ten teams don't give up, so we know we need to keep our foot on the gas.”Marcus Carr had 16 points for Minnesota (6-1). The Gophers were 19 of 69 (28%) from the field, while the Illini shot 34 for 64 (53%).