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Whenever No. 8 Illinois chipped away at No. 11 Alabama’s lead late Wednesday night, the crowd of 17,775 fans at the United Center would roar.

Alabama’s Labaron Philon Jr. answered every time, telling the Illini fans in Chicago to pipe down with a drive or a tip-in or a 3-pointer.

Philon, a sophomore guard, scored 19 of his 24 points in the second half, including nine straight in about 98 seconds, to help lift the Crimson Tide to a 90-86 victory.

The Fighting Illini weathered a horrific scoring drought to start the second half to pull within two points with eight seconds to play on Ben Humrichous’ 3-pointer. But the Tide won the foul- and free-throw shooting contest that followed.

Philon made 1 of 2 free throws. Illinois’ Kylan Boswell made

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