BY HERB GOULD hgould@suntimes.com March 5, 2013 8:21PM
Iowa center Gabriel Olaseni (0) dunks over Illinois guard Joseph Bertrand (2) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Tuesday, March 5, 2013, in Iowa City, Iowa. (AP Photo/Cedar Rapids Gazette, Brian Ray) MAGS OUT
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Updated: March 5, 2013 11:26PM
This game was there for the taking. The problem is, the way Illinois played was hard to take.
Desperately needing a win to keep its faint NCAA hopes alive, Iowa put the Illini out of their misery 63-55 on a wintry Tuesday night in Iowa City.
If the Hawkeyes (19-11, 8-9) can beat Nebraska in their finale and win a game or two at the Big Ten tournament, they?ll have an outside chance to sneak into the Big Dance, most likely as the Big Ten?s eighth entry.
If Illinois (21-9, 8-9) fumbles and bumbles like it did against the Hawkeyes, it quickly will be on the outside looking in, even though its NCAA tournament credentials already look secure.
Illinois was fortunate to only be down 31-28 after a messy first half in which the Illini shot 26 percent (9 for 34) and made only one basket in the first 11-plus minutes of the game.
An 8-4 edge in turnovers helped Illinois. So did a 7-1 edge in free throws made. Two three-pointers from Griffey and another from Richardson helped the Illini finish the half on an 18-11 run.
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