:format(jpeg):focal(3169x1350:3179x1340)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gfrmedia/UIUQ4PNBCFD67FLWMLXURFDA3M.jpg "André Curbelo scores 20 points in his return to play with Illinois")
Champaign Illinois. Sasha Stefanovic scored 22 points, including a go-ahead 3-pointer early in the second overtime, as Purdue defeated Illinois 96-88 in US college basketball on Monday.
The game marked the return to the field of Puerto Rican point guard from Illinois, André Curbelo, who had been out of action for 11 games while recovering from a concussion. Curbelo finished the game with 20 points, six rebounds and three assists.
Curbelo and fellow Puerto Rican teammate Alfonso Plummer scored baskets in the closing seconds of regulation and first overtime before the Boilermakers (15-2, 4-2 Big Ten) scrambled away. His basket with 14 seconds left in regulation time tied it at 69.
You serious, Andre Curbelo? 😱@papicurbelo11 // @IlliniMBB pic.twitter.com/vKUX9sOYwW
— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) January 17, 2022
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Purdue hit four straight shots to take an 89-83 lead with 1:03 left in the second overtime.
Plummer led the Illini (13-4, 6-1) with 24 points, shooting 6-of-12 from 3-point range. His basket with nine seconds left in the first overtime tied the game at 78.
Curbelo has been dealing with a concussion since October. He has only played in four of Illinois’ first 12 games this season. His last game had been on November 23 against Kansas State.
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