EditorsNote: adds "Big Ten" in third graf; adds first reference in seventh graf; revises 11th graf
Ayo Dosunmu scored 24 points, including a clutch runner in the lane with 16.1 seconds left, to lift Illinois past No. 9 Penn State 62-56 on Tuesday at University Park, Pa.
Dosunmu amassed 16 points in the second half.
Kofi Cockburn added 14 points and seven rebounds for the Fighting Illini (17-9, 9-6 Big Ten), who snapped a four-game losing streak. It was their first road win over a team within the top 10 since 2012. Illinois also broke a six-game losing streak to Penn State.
Lamar Stevens led Penn State (20-6, 10-5) with 13 points and nine rebounds while Izaiah Brockington added 10 points. The Nittany Lions had won eight in a row before Tuesday.
When Dosunmu knocked down a jumper over Seth Lundy, the Illini advantage was 50-43 with 7:27 left.
Brockington dropped in a trey from the corner as the Nittany Lions cut the lead to 56-52 with 4:14 remaining.
Illinois' Andres Feliz converted a difficult shot from 12 feet, but Stevens came back with a basket and Lundy made two free throws to get the Nittany Lions within 58-56 with 1:01 left.
The Illini shot 44.4 percent from the field, including 3 of 10 from 3-point range. Penn State struggled to 36.2 from the floor and 4 of 19 from behind the arc.
Earlier, Dosunmu split two free throws with 1:17 left in the first half to put Illinois ahead 28-26.
Penn State's Mike Watkins was whistled for a technical foul with 1.8 seconds remaining, but Trent Frazier missed both free throws, and Illinois went into the locker room with a 30-26 lead.
The Illini's Alan Griffin led all scorers with nine first-half points, but he didn't score after halftime.
The Nittany Lions missed eight of their nine 3-point attempts yet stayed within four points because they committed only two turnovers in the first half.
Cockburn gathered an offensive rebound and dunked for a 36-31 advantage with 15:40 remaining. The Illini extended their lead to 40-32 with 14:36 to go.
Curtis Jones Jr. responded with a 3-pointer on Penn State's next possession to close the deficit to five. Jones later scored a tough basket in the lane. Brockington hit a short jumper, and the Penn State run moved to 9-0 as it led 41-40 with 10:56 left.
Feliz scored to snap a five-minute Illinois drought, and Dosunmu followed with a 3-pointer for a 45-41 advantage.
--Field Level Media
