Illinois 63, Gardner-Webb 62

Nov 25, 2012, 06:22 pm

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Tyler Griffey buried a long 3-pointer with 4 seconds left and Illinois survived a scare Sunday by beating Gardner-Webb 63-62.

After winning the Maui Invitational, the Illini (7-0) came home and needed to rally against Gardner-Webb. Griffey's 3 followed a banked-in 3-pointer from Tashan Newsome with 12 seconds left that gave the Runnin' Bulldogs (4-4) a 62-60 lead.

Griffey was one of four Illinois players to finish with 13 points Sunday with D.J. Richardson, Brandon Paul and Joseph Bertrand. Bertrand added six rebounds.

The Illini overcame cold shooting. They hit just 33 percent of their first-half shots and led Gardner-Webb 24-23 at halftime.

Donta Harper led the Bulldogs with 16 points. Newsome finished with 11 points.