Illinois men’s basketball had to hold on to beat UT-Martin 77-74 at State Farm Center. The Fighting Illini led by 16 points in the final minutes, and the Skyhawks had two chances to tie late.
Illinois women’s basketball lost at Florida Gulf Coast 85-61.
The Packers slipped past the Bears 23-16, despite a career-high 297 yards through the air by Chicago quarterback Mitchell Trubisky. The Bears drop to 3-6 and host the Lions on Sunday.
The Indianapolis Colts lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers 20-17 on a game-winning field goal as the clock ran out. The Colts blew a two-touchdown lead in the second half. The Lions won 38-24 to keep the Browns winless. The Vikings won at Washington 38-30. The Patriots beat the Broncos 41-16 in the late game. The Miami Dolphins visit the Carolina Panthers in the Monday night game.
Illinois Wesleyan football received an at-large berth in the NCAA Division III playoffs. The Titans will host undefeated Case Western from Cleveland Saturday at noon. Eureka College captured one of the automatic bids by winning the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference and will travel to Number 4 St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota on Saturday.
Illinois Wesleyan women’s soccer lost in the second round of the NCAA tournament yesterday at Ohio Northern 2-0.
The Blackhawks blew a three-goal first-period lead and lost to New Jersey 7-5.
Matt Kenseth won for the first time this season, taking the checkered flag at Phoenix Raceway in what might have been the second-to-last Cup race of his NASCAR career.
