CHAMPAIGN — Freshman Malaki Branham scored 31 points to lift No. 22 Ohio State to an 86-83 win over No. 15 Illinois on Thursday night. The result dealt a serious blow to Illinois’ Big Ten title hopes, dropping them a full game behind co-leaders Purdue and Wisconsin two weeks left in the regular season. Advertisement The Illini (19-8, 12-5 Big Ten) mounted a furious 10-0 run to cut their deficit to two points with 1 minute, 49 seconds left in the game on Jacob Grandison’s layup, and Trent Frazier buried a 3-pointer with 14.6 seconds left to pull Illinois within a point. After Ohio State’s Kyle Young made one of two free-throw attempts, Frazier drove to the basket but turned the ball over when he misplaced a pass to Grandison at the 3-point line with four seconds left. Advertisement Advertisement The Buckeyes (18-7, 11-5) are in fourth place in the…
Continue Reading: Illinois stages a furious rally but comes up just short in an 86-83 loss to Ohio State, putting a dent in the Illini’s Big Ten title hopes
