Illinois fends off Michigan's upset bid

Illinois rallied to defeat Michigan and improved to 24-0.

Dee Brown refused to let Illinois lose.

Brown turned three straight steals into baskets, including the go-ahead three-point play, and scored 16 points to keep the top-ranked Illini undefeated with a 57-51 roadd victory over Michigan on Tuesday night.

Illinois (24-0, 10-0 Big Ten) overcame a total collapse on offense -- going nearly 12 minutes without a field goal -- and an eight-point deficit early in the second half to become the nation's only undefeated team. Previously unbeaten Boston College lost 68-65 at Notre Dame just minutes before the Illini finished off the Wolverines.

Dion Harris had 21 points and seven rebounds for Michigan, while Courtney Sims scored 15 points and Chris Hunter had 10. The Wolverines (12-12, 3-7) have lost seven straight, their longest losing streak since the 1999-2000 season.

Luther Head scored 14 points for Illinois and James Augustine had 10.

Brown took over the game when Michigan was clinging to a 39-35 lead midway through the second half.

His three steals in just over a minute led to three baskets, including a three-point play that gave Illinois the lead for good with 7:54 left.

The Illini, held to their lowest point total this season, proved again they can win without playing their best.

Illinois might have drawn on its experience two weeks ago when it overcame an eight-point deficit in the second half to beat Wisconsin 75-65.

The Illini got off to a good start, leading by as many as 10 points the first half, and were ahead 23-15 with 8:47 left in the first half.

Then they went on a stunning drought, going almost 12 minutes without a field goal and scoring only one point.

When the Illini finally made a shot a few minutes into the second half, they trailed by just four.

Brown's steals-and-layups flurry started a 14-3 run, which put the Illini ahead 49-42 with just under 4 minutes to go. Brown's two free throws, the final two points of the game, sealed the victory with 6.2 seconds left.

Notre Dame 68, No. 4 Boston College 65

Colin Falls matched his career high with 23 points and Chris Thomas added 19 points and nine assists as the Irish's home victory ended the Eagles' 20-game winning streak and handed them their first loss of the season.

Jared Dudley had 16 points for the Eagles (20-1, 9-1 Big East), but Craig Smith, BC's leading scorer at 18.7 points a game, missed his final eight shots and finished 4-of-14 for nine points with eight rebounds.

The Irish (14-6, 6-4) beat a ranked team for the second time in three games. They beat No. 19 Connecticut 78-74 on Jan. 30.