Illini hold off Michigan for 79-74 victory

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Dee Brown scored 26 points and James Augustine added 23 and No. 7 Illinois withstood a second-half charge from Michigan to beat the Wolverines for the 11th straight time, 79-74 on Saturday.

The win was Illinois' 31st in a row at the Assembly Hall, tying the school record set between Jan. 15, 1984 and Jan. 4, 1986.

Michigan (11-3, 1-2 Big Ten) hasn't beaten the Illini (16-1, 2-1) since a 95-91 double overtime victory on Jan. 16, 2000.

After Michigan's 10-0 run gave it a 70-69 lead on Dion Harris' two free throws with 4:01 left, Augustine put the Illini back into the lead with two free throws. His layup 56 seconds later gave the Illini a 73-70 lead and they outscored the Wolverines 6-4 down the stretch.

Brown hit four straight 3-pointers that built a 53-51 Illinois lead to 69-60 before Daniel Horton scored eight straight points to bring the Wolverines within one.