For eight minutes and four seconds, the Illini looked unstoppable. Kofi Cockburn had just scored his fifth basket and the Illini led 23-8 at the first half’s second media timeout.
It was all down hill from there. Cincinnati (5-0) rallied from 15 down and stymied the Illini (2-2), winning 71-51 on Monday night in the Hall of Fame Classic in Kansas City.
After serving a three game suspension, Kofi Cockburn returned to the Illini lineup. The junior was involved early, scoring the first six points of the game for Illinois and bringing an offensive presence inside that the Illini have lacked.