Utes  60    Fighting Illini  58

Recap: Illinois vs. Utah

Sports Network | November 28, 2009

Las Vegas, NV (Sports Network) - Shawn Glover hit a running layup in the paint as time expired, as Utah toppled 20th-ranked Illinois, 60-58, in third-round action at the Las Vegas Invitational.

Luka Drca led the way with 16 points for the Utes (3-2), who play Oklahoma State in the tourney title game on Saturday. Jay Watkins added 12 points.

Demetri McCamey posted a game-high 19 points with seven rebounds for the Illini (4-1), who face Bradley on Saturday. Mike Tisdale had 18 points and five boards in defeat.

McCamey had missed a potential game-winning jumper with three seconds left, but the ball took a beneficial bounce to Watkins. He quickly fed Glover who raced downcourt and released his shot which was good. After a lengthy review, the basket was upheld after it was determined the ball left his hands a fraction of a second before the buzzer.

Illinois' night began on a better note, as an 18-4 run through the first half produced a 26-12 advantage with 6:04 left. Tisdale's dunk with 1:16 to go held up as the Illini led 32-16 at the break.

McCamey's jumper with 9 1/2 left in regulation gave Illinois a 48-35 advantage, and Utah began chipping away.

Carlon Brown's three-point play with 5:07 left drew the Utes even at 50-50, then each side traded turns with the lead until Tisdale's jumper with 1:25 to play gave Illinois a 58-57 edge.

Brown missed the front end of two free throws with 1:09 remaining before Tisdale and Brown each missed shots down the stretch.

The Utes hit a scorching 69.6 percent (16-of-23) from the field in the second half after connecting on just 24.1 percent in the first half...Brown finished with nine points and nine rebounds for Utah...Illinois made just 1-of-9 three- point tries, and missed all five second-half attempts...Utah edged Illinois, 35-33, on the boards.