NCAA Game Summary - Indiana at Illinois
(Saturday, October 27)
Final Score: Indiana 31, Illinois 17
Champaign, IL (Sports Network) - Stephen Houston ran for two touchdowns and had another one receiving, as the Indiana Hoosiers outlasted Illinois, 31-17, in a Big Ten Conference clash at Memorial Stadium.
Nate Sudfeld came off the bench to throw for 107 yards and a pair of touchdowns on 10-of-15 passing, helping the Hoosiers (3-5, 1-3 Big Ten) snap an 11-game conference losing streak that dated back to 2010.
The Fighting Illini (2-6, 0-4) have now lost five in a row, despite a career- high 124 rushing yards from Donovonn Young. Nathan Scheelhaase threw for a touchdown and ran for another in the loss.
Illinois struck first, as Scheelhaase polished off a 73-yard drive with a two-yard touchdown pass to Eddie Viliunas at the 9:49 mark of the first quarter.
IU tied the score on a two-yard TD plunge by Houston with 6:49 to play in the opening frame, capping a nine-play, 75-yard drive.
Illinois regained the lead early in the second quarter when Scheelhaase scored on a five-yard scamper.
However, IU closed out the first half with two unanswered touchdowns. The first came on a 10-yard pass from Sudfield to Houston, and Houston later scored his third TD of the day on a seven-yard run at the 4:42 mark of the second quarter.
The Hoosiers extended their lead to 24-14 on Mitch Ewald's 28-yard field goal, which was set up by a fumble recovery deep in Illinois territory.
Illinois answered with a 15-play drive that took five and a half minutes off the clock, but the Illini had to settle for three points as Taylor Zalewski kicked a 20-yard field goal.
IU put the game away with an insurance TD at the 5:48 mark of the fourth quarter, as Sudfeld tossed a 17-yard scoring strike to Shane Wynn to make it a 31-17 game.
The Hoosiers won despite converting only 1-of-13 third downs and being out- gained, 372-292.
10/27 16:24:49 ET