Champaign, IL (SportsNetwork.com) - Troy Williams and James Blackmon Jr. both tallied 21 points as the Indiana Hoosiers grabbed the 80-74 win over the Illinois Fighting Illini in a Big Ten Conference battle at State Farm Center.

Blackmon Jr. knocked down four of his six shots from 3-point range and Williams not only cleared a team-best nine rebounds, he also converted several key free throws down the stretch in order for the Hoosiers (14-4, 4-1 Big Ten) to extend their win streak to three in a row.

Also scoring in double figures for the visitors was Nick Zeisloft with 10 points off the bench. Kevin Ferrell shot only 1-of-9 from the floor and finished with seven points, but he also accounted for nine assists, against just a single turnover.

Illinois (12-7, 2-4), which has dropped two of the last three contests, was paced by Kendrick Nunn with a game-high 24 points on 6-of-10 shooting beyond the arc. Ahmad Starks contributed 19 points and six assists in a reserve role, hitting 5-of-8 on the perimeter, while Malcolm Hill tacked on 12 points and three steals.

The Illini appeared poised to run away with the meeting as they opened on a 9-0 burst, but it wasn't long before Indiana was ahead by 11 in the period, 34-23, with under five minutes to play before the half. Illinois was able to close the gap to just four points at the break, 38-34, thanks in part to a 6- of-14 showing behind the 3-point line.

Almost midway through the second half Illinois again owned a nine-point advantage, 61-52, but the team went cold and allowed the Hoosiers to fight all the way back and build on a late lead at the free-throw line, thanks to four conversions by Williams in the final minute to seal the win for the visitors.

In a game that featured three ties and seven lead changes, the Illini trailed on the glass, 31-25, and pulled down just four rebounds at the offensive end of the floor.