The match-up between No. 24 Iowa and No. 1 Illinois came just in time to stop a growing epidemic. Cuticles of the Champaign-Urbana citizens were wildly out of proportion and fingernails were dangerously overgrown. Frequent blowouts had drawn all the anxiety away from many fans.

Illinois’ expected offensive fluidity was left behind in practice; coach Bruce Weber was coaxed into explosion the day before in practice. The Illini were void of positive energy and the sloppy and uninspired play followed them into the game Thursday night.

Illinois couldn’t seal the win in regulation and struggled to a 73-68 overtime victory.

“You practice how you play,” Weber said.

Illinois is No. 1 because of its unselfish play, assist-to-turnover ratio and sharp shooting from the field. In an uncharacteristic game, Illinois finished with only 12 assists, the 19 turnovers that naturally follow it and a frigid 32 percent shooting as a team. Illinois went 6-of-28 from behind the 3-point line and its big men shot a combined 3-of-21.

“I don’t think it’s the pressure (of being No. 1),” Weber said. “I just think it’s the season.”

The anticipation for this game started early when Iowa’s guard trio began to make noise. Although the guards were close, Iowa coach Steve Alford believes they needed to make a few more plays down the stretch to get the win.

“We tried to avoid the knock-out punch, which we did,” Alford said. “A team like Illinois, you’re going to have to beat them because they’re not going to beat themselves.”

Normally that statement would be held up as true, but tonight it almost wasn’t. Because of Illinois’ turnovers and cold shooting the game was close; it took all of Luther Head’s 25 points and James Augustine’s 14 rebounds to get past Iowa.

“Effort, rebounding, playing defense – the only reason we stayed in the game,” Augustine said.

Inside the final minute of regulation guard Deron Williams missed two free throws that would have put Illinois up five. With Illinois up three, a dunk by Iowa guard Adam Haluska brought the Hawkeye’s score to within one. On the inbounds Dee Brown was fouled, then split the foul shot, leaving just enough time and room for Iowa forward Greg Brunner to send the game into overtime with a basket.

“I take pride in my free throws,” Brown said. “I shoot from 100-150 per day so that I can have confidence in the games.”

Sloppy play would follow the two teams into overtime; they shot a combined 2-12 from the field in the additional five minutes. The difference was Illinois went 6-of-6 from the foul line and pulled away for the last time.

Augustine cited that Illinois was up the entire game, but the match never had the feeling of routine Illini victory. A breath of fresh air flew through the Assembly Hall after the final seconds ticked down on the clock.

“You learn a lesson from tonight through not failing,” Weber said. “Usually you have to learn from failing. We got lucky this time and next time it might cost us.”