COLLEGE BASKETBALL / GREAT ALASKA SHOOTOUT : Illinois Gains Final With 93-77 Win

Andy Kaufmann scored 27 points and Deon Thomas 21 as Illinois routed Vanderbilt, 93-77, Friday in the second round of the Great Alaska Shootout at Anchorage.

The Illini advanced to the shootout final for the first time in three appearances. They will play the winner of Friday night’s late game between Oregon and New Mexico State.

“I’m craving competition after the year off,” said Kaufmann, who sat out last season. “I feel more relaxed, more comfortable. I’m more mature now and have had time to think about what coach (Lou) Henson has been telling me.”

T.J. Wheeler had 13 points and Robert Bennett 11 for Illinois, and Bill McCaffrey led Vanderbilt with 23.

Alabama Birmingham 80, Dayton 67--Robert Shannon had 20 points and Clarence Thrash had 18 points and 13 rebounds to lead Alabama-Birmingham in the second round.

Alabama Birmingham will play Tennessee Chattanooga today in the fourth-place game. Dayton and Alaska Anchorage will play for seventh and eighth places.

Tennessee Chattanooga 110, Alaska Anchorage 56--Gary Robb scored 28 points, making all six of his three-point shots, as Tennessee Chattanooga won a second-round game.

New Mexico State 75, Tennessee Chattanooga 65--In a first-round game on Thursday, Sam Crawford scored 18 points and Tracey Ware added 12 points and 12 rebounds to lead New Mexico State.