Top-seeded Michigan survives challenge from Illini

INDIANAPOLIS – Tracy Abrams had the ball right where he wanted it — in his own hands with a drive to the basket.

The junior guard just came up short.

Jordan Morgan scored on a layup with 7.9 seconds left Friday and Abrams missed what would have been the winning shot at the buzzer, allowing No. 8 Michigan to survive a quarterfinal scare with a 64-63 victory in the Big Ten tournament.

"I thought it was going to go in, and I thought we were going to win and I had the utmost confidence," said Abrams, after staring at the rim in disbelief. "I wasn't shocked that we lost, but shocked the shot didn't go in."

Abrams and Illinois (19-14) did everything they could to pull off the upset.

They charged back from a 13-point second-half deficit with brilliant zone defense. They outrebounded the Wolverines 33-26. They committed only nine turnovers and shot better from the field than Michigan, too.

The difference was two bounces. Morgan's shot went in, Abrams' did not.

A little more than one year ago, Morgan's last-second tip-in would have given the Wolverines (24-7) a share of the Big Ten regular-season title, but his rebound shot rolled off the rim.

No. 24 Ohio State 71, Nebraska 67: LaQuinton Ross had 26 points and 13 rebounds and the Buckeyes (25-8) rallied from an 18-point second-half deficit to beat the fourth-seeded Cornhuskers (19-12) in the quarterfinals of the Big Ten tournament.

The victory sends No. 5 seed Ohio State into a semifinal matchup with No. 1 seed Michigan on Saturday. The Wolverines defeated No. 9 seed Illinois 64-63 in another quarterfinal Friday.

Terran Petteway led Nebraska with 20 points but fouled out while defending Ross late in the game.

No. 22 Michigan State 67, Northwestern 51: Branden Dawson had 16 points and Gary Harris added 13 points to lead the third-seeded Spartans (24-7) over the Wildcats (14-19). Michigan State, which lost three of four games heading into the contest, will face No. 12 Wisconsin in one semifinal Saturday.