WATCH: Providence defeats Illinois in a wild finish
Providence left the door open for Illinois, missing three of four free throws in the final minute of regulation. Trailing 60-59 with 21 seconds left, Illinois had the ball with no timeouts.
The Fighting Illini would get three cracks at the game-winner, but Malcolm Hill missed a layup, Michael Finke failed to clean up the miss with a putback dunk and Hill's deep, but open 3-pointer, would fall short, as the Friars held on for the one-point win in the Gavitt Tipoff Games.
WHAT A FINISH! Illinois misses 2 shots at the rim, @PCFriarsmbb wins 60-59. What a game! #GavittTipoffGames https://t.co/kzlMyEEQk9
— FS1 (@FS1) November 19, 2015
Ben Bentil led Providence with 18 points and 12 boards. Kris Dunn, who struggled through foul trouble in the first half, finished with 10 points, eight rebounds and three assists, while making several key defensive plays down the stretch. Jalen Coleman-Lands had 17 points, including five 3-pointers, off the bench for the Illini.
