Minnesota Ends No. 4 Illinois’ 11-Game Winning Streak, 91-74

Melvin Newbern scored 27 points and Willie Burton 21 as No. 24 Minnesota defeated previously unbeaten No. 4 Illinois, 91-74, in a Big Ten game Saturday night.

The Gophers won their 10th in a row after a season-opening loss to Cincinnati. The loss ended Illinois’ 11-game winning streak.

Newbern also had eight assists and two steals and Kevin Lynch scored 17, giving Minnesota’s guards a 44-17 scoring advantage over Illinois’ Kendall Gill and Stephen Bardo.

Gill had 15 points, 11 in the second half, but Bardo was held to two points. Andy Kaufmann led Illinois with 21 points and Marcus Liberty had 18.

Minnesota led by 11 at halftime with the help of Burton’s shooting and a 25-11 rebounding advantage. Richard Coffey had 12 as the Gophers outrebounded Illinois, 36-29.

Burton made three of four shots from three-point range in the first half, including two in a row that gave Minnesota a 41-27 lead with 2:49 to play.

Illinois cut Minnesota’s lead to seven eight minutes into the second half on two baskets by Liberty and one by Gill. But Newbern then scored five consecutive points. A minute later, Newbern scored another basket and made two free throws after Gill’s intentional foul, and the Gophers gained a 81-61 lead.