CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WAND) - Following wins over Washington and previously 5th ranked Nebraska, the Illinois men's basketball team jumped from #9 to #5 in the latest AP poll.
The Illini outscored the Cornhuskers on Sunday 45-30 in the second half, erasing a 6-point halftime deficit to take the ranked win in Lincoln, 78-69. Just days prior inside the State Farm Center, the team outpaced a Huskies team struggling in the Big Ten standings, 75-66.
Illinois' wins over Purdue and Nebraska the last two weekends are the first time in program history where the team has won consecutive road games against teams ranked inside the top 5.
The Illini currently ride an 11-game win streak and carry a 19-3 overall record, their best start since the 2005-06 season.
Illinois and #10 Michigan State are the only two programs with three losses ranked inside the top 10 in the latest AP rankings.
The orange and blue return to Champaign on Wednesday for an "orange out" rematch with Northwestern (Jan. 14: W in Evanston 79-68), before heading on the road once again to East Lansing to play Michigan State. It will round out a stretch of three-consecutive weekends playing opponents inside the top 10.
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