Photographer: Darrell Hoemann

Illinois' guard D.J. Richardson (1) puts up a shot over Illinois' forward/center Ibby Djimde (23) in the second half of the Auburn-Illinois men's college basketball in Chicago on Saturday, December 29, 2012 .

Photographer: Darrell Hoemann

Illinois fans applaud the team in the clsong moments of the Auburn-Illinois men's college basketball in Chicago on Saturday, December 29, 2012 .

Photographer: Darrell Hoemann

Auburn's guard Frankie Sullivan (23) forces the ball out from Illinois' forward Tyler Griffey (42) in the second half of the Auburn-Illinois men's college basketball in Chicago on Saturday, December 29, 2012 .

Photographer: Darrell Hoemann

Pat McWherter, and LInda and Bob Reed pass time before the Auburn-Illinois men's college basketball in Chicago on Saturday, December 29, 2012 .

Photographer: Darrell Hoemann

Illinois' forward Tyler Griffey (42) tries to move the ball past Auburn's guard Frankie Sullivan (23) in the second half of the Auburn-Illinois men's college basketball in Chicago on Saturday, December 29, 2012 .

Photographer: Darrell Hoemann

Illinois' forward Sam McLaurin (0) tries to move to the basket past Auburn's guard Frankie Sullivan (23) in the second half of the Auburn-Illinois men's college basketball in Chicago on Saturday, December 29, 2012 .

Photographer: Darrell Hoemann

Illinois' guard Tracy Abrams (13) gets airborne to shoot over Auburn's center Asauhn Dixon-Tatum (0) in the second half of the Auburn-Illinois men's college basketball in Chicago on Saturday, December 29, 2012 .

Photographer: Darrell Hoemann

Illinois' guard Tracy Abrams (13) puts up a shot in the second half of the Auburn-Illinois men's college basketball in Chicago on Saturday, December 29, 2012 .

Photographer: Darrell Hoemann

Illinois' forward Tyler Griffey (42) puts up a shot in the second half of the Auburn-Illinois men's college basketball in Chicago on Saturday, December 29, 2012 .

Photographer: Darrell Hoemann

Illinois fans before the Auburn-Illinois men's college basketball in Chicago on Saturday, December 29, 2012 .

Photographer: Darrell Hoemann

Cheerleaders lead fans in singing the Illinois song before the Auburn-Illinois men's college basketball in Chicago on Saturday, December 29, 2012 .

Photographer: Darrell Hoemann

during tthe Auburn-Illinois men's college basketball in Chicago on Saturday, December 29, 2012 .

Photographer: Darrell Hoemann

Illinois' guard Tracy Abrams (13) shoots a free throw in the closing moments of the Auburn-Illinois men's college basketball in Chicago on Saturday, December 29, 2012 .

Photographer: Darrell Hoemann

Illinois' forward Tyler Griffey (42) puts up a shot in the second half of the Auburn-Illinois men's college basketball in Chicago on Saturday, December 29, 2012 .

Photographer: Darrell Hoemann

Illinois' forward Sam McLaurin (0) shoots over Auburn's guard Brian Greene Jr. (24) during the Auburn-Illinois men's college basketball in Chicago on Saturday, December 29, 2012 .

Photographer: Darrell Hoemann

Illinois' guard Tracy Abrams (13) tries to move past Auburn's guard Josh Wallace (11) during the Auburn-Illinois men's college basketball in Chicago on Saturday, December 29, 2012 .

Photographer: Darrell Hoemann

Illinois' guard Brandon Paul (3) goes up for a shot as Auburn's center Asauhn Dixon-Tatum (0) defends during the Auburn-Illinois men's college basketball in Chicago on Saturday, December 29, 2012 .

Photographer: Darrell Hoemann

Illinois' guard Brandon Paul (3) moves the ball between Auburn's center Asauhn Dixon-Tatum (0) and forward Noel Johnson (32) during the Auburn-Illinois men's college basketball in Chicago on Saturday, December 29, 2012 .

Photographer: Darrell Hoemann

Interior of the United Center during the Auburn-Illinois men's college basketball in Chicago on Saturday, December 29, 2012 .

Photographer: Darrell Hoemann

Interior of the United Center during the Auburn-Illinois men's college basketball in Chicago on Saturday, December 29, 2012 .

Photographer: Darrell Hoemann

Interior of the United Center during the Auburn-Illinois men's college basketball in Chicago on Saturday, December 29, 2012 .

Photographer: Darrell Hoemann

Illinois' guard Tracy Abrams (13) puts up a shot during the Auburn-Illinois men's college basketball in Chicago on Saturday, December 29, 2012 .

Photographer: Darrell Hoemann

Illinois' head coach John Groce signals to the team during the Auburn-Illinois men's college basketball in Chicago on Saturday, December 29, 2012 .

Photographer: Darrell Hoemann

Illinois' head coach John Groce glares at a call in the closing minutes of the Auburn-Illinois men's college basketball in Chicago on Saturday, December 29, 2012 .

Photographer: Darrell Hoemann

Illinois' guard Tracy Abrams (13) goes up to shoot Auburn's center Rob Chubb (41) during the Auburn-Illinois men's college basketball in Chicago on Saturday, December 29, 2012 .

Photographer: Darrell Hoemann

Illinois' guard Brandon Paul (3) shoots as Auburn's center Asauhn Dixon-Tatum (0) defends during the Auburn-Illinois men's college basketball in Chicago on Saturday, December 29, 2012 .

Photographer: Darrell Hoemann

Illinois' guard D.J. Richardson (1) recovers an Auburn turnover during the Auburn-Illinois men's college basketball in Chicago on Saturday, December 29, 2012 .

Photographer: Darrell Hoemann

The Lantero family of Hinsdale pose for photo before the Auburn-Illinois men's college basketball in Chicago on Saturday, December 29, 2012 .

Photographer: Darrell Hoemann

Auburn's center Asauhn Dixon-Tatum (0) fouls as Illinois' guard Brandon Paul (3) shoots during the Auburn-Illinois men's college basketball in Chicago on Saturday, December 29, 2012 .

Photographer: Darrell Hoemann

Auburn's head coach Tony Barbee talks with Auburn's guard Frankie Sullivan (23) during the Auburn-Illinois men's college basketball in Chicago on Saturday, December 29, 2012 .

Photographer: Darrell Hoemann

Illinois' guard Brandon Paul (3) gets airborne for a shot past Auburn's guard Frankie Sullivan (23) during the Auburn-Illinois men's college basketball in Chicago on Saturday, December 29, 2012 .

Photographer: Darrell Hoemann

Illinois' guard D.J. Richardson (1) moves the ball past Auburn's forward Shaquille Johnson (5) during the Auburn-Illinois men's college basketball in Chicago on Saturday, December 29, 2012 .

Photographer: Darrell Hoemann

2004 UI alum Natalie Manning shares a four year tradition of attending a game with her father Dave Roliadi before Auburn-Illinois men's college basketball in Chicago on Saturday, December 29, 2012 .

Photographer: Darrell Hoemann

During the Auburn-Illinois men's college basketball in Chicago on Saturday, December 29, 2012 .

Photographer: Darrell Hoemann

Illinois' head coach John Groce talks with Auburn's head coach Tony Barbee before the Auburn-Illinois men's college basketball in Chicago on Saturday, December 29, 2012 .

Photographer: Darrell Hoemann

Illinois fans stand for the closing moments of Auburn-Illinois men's college basketball in Chicago on Saturday, December 29, 2012 .

Photographer: Darrell Hoemann

Illinois' forward/center Nnanna Egwu (32) puts up a shot past Auburn's forward Shaquille Johnson (5) in the first half of the Auburn-Illinois men's college basketball in Chicago on Saturday, December 29, 2012 .

Photographer: Darrell Hoemann

Both teams scramble for the ball in the last minute of the Auburn-Illinois men's college basketball in Chicago on Saturday, December 29, 2012 .

Photographer: Darrell Hoemann

An official chastises the Illini during Auburn-Illinois men's college basketball in Chicago on Saturday, December 29, 2012 .

Photographer: Darrell Hoemann

Illinois' guard Tracy Abrams (13) shoots in the second half of the Auburn-Illinois men's college basketball in Chicago on Saturday, December 29, 2012 .

Photographer: Darrell Hoemann

Illinois' guard Tracy Abrams (13) tries t shoot past Auburn's center Rob Chubb (41) in the second half of the Auburn-Illinois men's college basketball in Chicago on Saturday, December 29, 2012 .

Photographer: Darrell Hoemann

Auburn's guard Chris Denson (3) pulls a ball away from Illinois' guard/forward Myke Henry (20) in the second half of the Auburn-Illinois men's college basketball in Chicago on Saturday, December 29, 2012 .

Photographer: Darrell Hoemann

Brent Matthis, a 1991 UI alum with sons, Brock and JT before the Auburn-Illinois men's college basketball in Chicago on Saturday, December 29, 2012 .

Photographer: Darrell Hoemann

Graduate assistant Mike West warms up the Orange and Blue band before the Auburn-Illinois men's college basketball in Chicago on Saturday, December 29, 2012 .

Photographer: Darrell Hoemann

From left: John McKinnon and William and Sam Shriner enjoy food before the Auburn-Illinois men's college basketball in Chicago on Saturday, December 29, 2012 . Sam Shriner is a senior in business at UI.