The Commercial-News, Danville, IL

Sports

Related Photos

  • Jake Lockard/Commercial-News

    Paul 7.jpg

Discussion

February 7, 2010

Illinois makes its big statement

BY CHAD DARE

CHAMPAIGN — As the Orange Krush stormed the court, Illinois junior guard Demetri McCamey jumped onto the scorers’ table.

No, he wasn’t trying to get away from the orange-clad mob, McCamey was letting all 16,618 at the Assembly Hall know just how big this win was for the Illini.

“I wanted everyone to know that this was our house,’’ said McCamey, whose actions in the previous 40 minutes told the same tale.

The junior recorded his first double-double of the season with 22 points and 11 assists as he led Illinois to a 78-73 upset victory over the No. 5-ranked Michigan State Spartans.

It was the perfect ending to a special day in Champaign with ESPN’s GameDay crew doing their show live from the Assembly Hall.

“We knew with the GameDay people being here and playing against a Michigan State, it was going to be a huge crowd,’’ McCamey said. “We just had to stay level headed and fight for 40 minutes.

“I want to give my guys credit, this was probably the first time that we’ve played well for all 40 minutes this season.’’

And that definitely included McCamey, who buried one of his career-high six 3-pointers with 37.7 seconds left giving the Illini a 73-68 lead.

But Michigan State came back and closed within 74-73 on a 3-pointer by Durrell Summers with :17.4 left.

“We made our runs and they made theirs,” McCamey said. “They kept coming back again and again.”

Illinois freshman guard D.J. Richardson, who made only 1-of-2 free throws with :26 left, sank a pair giving the Illini a 76-73 lead.

The Spartans tried to go back to Summers, but this time Illinois forward Mike Davis was there.

Davis, a 6-foot-9 junior, got a piece of Summers’ shot. Illinois freshman Brandon Paul got the rebound and passed it immediately to Bill Cole, who found Davis down court for a wide-open, game-ending slam dunk.

“I knew they were going to try to get Durrell Summers open for a 3,’’ said Davis, who 16 points coming off the bench. “I saw Brandon was a little late on the screen, so I popped out and took him. I used my length to get a piece of it.

“Bill saw me down court for the game-ending dunk. It was a great feeling.’’

For Davis, it was also a small sign that things could be turning for the junior, who has not started in four straight games.

“I really felt confident out there tonight,’’ he said. “All of the hard work that I’ve put in recently paid off tonight.’’

With the win, Illinois (16-8 overall) pulls within one game of Michigan State (19-5) in the Big Ten standings. The Illini are now 8-3 and the Spartans are 9-2.

Both teams have huge games on Tuesday as Illinois travels to Wisconsin, while Michigan State hosts Purdue.

Text Only
Sports
E-edition
AP Video
Raw Video: Honduras Prison Fire Kills Hundreds Defiant Iran Loads Own Fuel Rods Into Reactor Lawmakers Move to Cusp of Payroll Tax Cut Deal Raw Video: Syrian Army, Rebels Battle in Homs Video Essay: Saving the Miami Blue Butterfly NYPD Officer Shot During Subway Confrontation Obama's Valentine's Advice: 'Go Big' San Francisco's Valentine's Gift to Tony Bennett Iranian Boats Shadow US Aircraft Carrier in Gulf Hundreds Rally Against Alabama Immigration Law Whitney Houston Funeral to Be Invitation Only New Details in Search for Missing Utah Mom Raw Video: Protesters, Security Clash in Bahrain Obama: Good US-China Ties Help the Whole World School Pays Students to Attend Class Raw Video: 5 People Injured in Bangkok Blasts Trial Opens for Ala. Man in Bride's Diving Death Baltimore's 'Crime Stopper' Is a Basketball Star Arm Wrestler Not Guilty Plea in Wife's Death
NDN Video
Video captures dramatic attack on Mexican newspaper Model Falls on Runway Marc & J.Lo: 'Q'Viva!' is Our Family 'Legacy' Lin Tracker Kate Upton Bares Her Killer Bod Google Street View Catches Bizarre Moments Shakira Attacked By Sea Lion Passenger steals Rolex from security at airport Jennifer Aniston's Sexy Spread Man organizes in-flight proposal for girlfriend Kate Upton MLB 2K12 Commercial Ultimate Tazer Ball is a Shocking New Sport Amaro and the Phanatic deliver a Valentine's Day surprise What Happened Inside Whitney's Hotel Room? Raw Video: Purported Pipeline Fire in Syria Kim K. Wet, Wild and Natural Modern day treasure hunter searching for $3 billion prize Apple launches labor inspections Saying 'I Love You' With a Sewage Plant Tour Watch: Whitney Houston's Golden Hearse