Postgame Notes: No. 11 Illinois 74, No. 8 Ohio State 55

Postgame Notes: No. 11 Illinois 74, No. 8 Ohio State 55
Deshaun Thomas led all scorers with 24 points

Jan. 5, 2013

Recap | Box Score | Photo Gallery

POSTGAME NOTES
No. 11 Illinois (14-2, 1-1 Big Ten) 74, No. 8 Ohio State (11-3, 1-1 Big Ten) 55
Jan. 5, 2013
Assembly Hall - Champaign, Ill.
Attendance: TBA

GAME

The game Saturday was the 166th all-time meeting between Ohio State and Illinois. The Illini hold a 101-65 advantage in the series and a 60-24 lead in Champaign.
In games when both teams enter with a Top 25 ranking (AP), the Fighting Illini hold a 6-5 advantage over the Buckeyes.
Ohio State owns a 33-64 record in the first road game of the season in Big Ten play. The Buckeyes are 740-669 all-time in conference play.

TEAM

Two players scored in double figures for Ohio State: Deshaun Thomas (24 points) and Aaron Craft (11).
The Buckeyes trailed at the half for only the second time this season (37-25). OSU also trailed at the half in a 74-66 loss to Kansas.
The 19-point margin of victory by Illinois was the largest a team has recorded over Ohio State this season.
Ohio State scored 14 points off of 18 Illinois turnovers.
As a ranked team (AP), No. 8 Ohio State is 437-119 all-time. Ohio State is 316-70 when ranked in the Top 10.
The Buckeyes have an all-time record of 147-234 vs. ranked opponents in the Associated Press Top 25.
OSU is 67-60 all-time when both teams carry an Associated Press Top 25 ranking.

Thad Matta

The game vs. Illinois marked the 300th game Matta has coached at Ohio State. Only two previous coaches, Harold G. Olsen (1923-46) and Fred Taylor (1959-76), reached 300 or more games at Ohio State.
Matta is 231-68 during his career at Ohio State and 333-99 overall as a head coach.
During the Matta era at Ohio State, the Buckeyes have a record of 39-47 vs. ranked opponents.
In his 13 years as a head coach, Matta is 118-48 vs. current Big Ten opponents.
Matta owns an 11-5 record vs. Illinois.

Deshaun Thomas

Led all scorers with 24 points.
With 1,180 points, Thomas moves to No. 34 on the all-time scoring list at Ohio State. He needs 31 points to pass Luke Witte for thirty-third all-time.
Has scored in double figures in all 14 games this season and totaled 20 or more points in seven contests.

Aaron Craft

Craft recorded four steals against the Illini. He is currently No. 2 on the all-time list at Ohio State (197). Jay Burson (1986-89) is Ohio State's career leader with 204.
With three assists for the game, Craft moves to No. 4 on the all-time list at Ohio State with 426 for his career. He needs 49 assists to pass Curtis Wilson for third.

Amir Williams