Stojakovic scores 23 and blocks late 3 attempt as No. 14 Illinois beats No. 11 Texas Tech 81-77

CHAMPAIGN Ill AP Andrej Stojakovic scored points and blocked a anticipated tying -pointer in the final seconds as No Illinois defeated No Texas Tech - on Tuesday night Kylan Boswell had points and three players David Mirkovich Keaton Wagler and Zvonimir Ivisic each scored for the Fighting Illini - who let a -point halftime lead slip away before rallying to win All-American and reigning Big sportsman of the year J T Toppin had points and rebounds for Texas Tech - It was his rd career double-double LeJuan Watts scored for the Red Raiders Texas Tech had an opportunity to tie the championship after Watts sank two free throws with seconds left to make it - following a flagrant foul on Boswell But then Stojavokic blocked Christian Anderson s -point try and Wagler hit a free throw to seal it The Red Raiders wiped out Illinois - halftime lead by making straight shots to start the second half Texas Tech moved in front - on a three-point play by Watts with to go Illinois bounced back and took the lead for good - on a layup by Ivisic with remaining Texas Tech jumped out to a - lead but the Illini responded with an -point run ignited by back-to-back s from Boswell and took their biggest lead of the half when Stojakovic drove for a layup at the buzzer Illinois went for at the free-throw line while Texas Tech was of Up next Texas Tech Home vs Milwaukee on Friday night The Red Raiders have won straight nonconference home games Illinois Home vs Colgate on Friday night the finale of a four-game homestand to start the season Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top throughout the season Sign up here and here AP News mobile app AP college basketball https apnews com hub ap-top- -college-basketball-poll and https apnews com hub college-basketball Source