Illinois may have a trio of talented seniors, but Thursday night in Madison Square Garden belonged to the Texas youth.
In an exciting back-and-forth (at least during regulation) 90-84 overtime victory, Texas used big-time efforts by a freshman and sophomore mixed with some clutch shooting from yet another freshman to take down No. 13 Illinois.
Tristan Thompson, a 6-foot-8 freshman forward, ended the game with 20 points, 9 rebounds and 6 blocks. Jordan Hamilton, a 6-foot-7 sophomore swingman, added 25 points, 7 rebounds and 3 steals. The young duo combined to hit 17 of 27 shots from the floor and scored exactly half of the Longhorns' points.
The Illini came into New York City armed with seniors Demetri McCamey, Mike Tisdale and Mike Davis. Big men Tisdale and Davis lost their battle with foul trouble and were largely ineffective, but McCamey nearly overcame their shortcomings with a yeoman effort of his own and the help of some youth himself.
The senior point guard had 22 points, 8 assists, 5 rebounds and 2 steals, but missed a pivotal shot late in regulation that could have put Illinois ahead. The Longhorns responded with a clutch jumper from freshman Cory Joseph -- who only connected on two of his nine field goal attempts the entire game. Illinois then tapped their own fountain of youth, using McCamey as a decoy, when star freshman Jereme Richmond (11 points, 5 rebounds) drove and connected to tie the game and send it to overtime.
Once it went to overtime, however, the Longhorns took over with their youth connection. They scored the first eight points of the extra period and wouldn't look back. A Bill Cole 3-pointer did bring Illinois to within three with just over a minute remaining, but Texas was able to stave off the Illini.
Rick Barnes' Texas (2-1) squad will go on to face No. 5 Pittsburgh in the championship of the Coaches vs. Cancer event Friday night.
Bruce Weber's Illini (3-1) will get Maryland in the consolation game Friday night.
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