Demetri McCamey scored 14 points and Mike Davis added 13 points and 12 rebounds as Illinois beat Michigan 51-44 Tuesday night.
The Fighting Illini (18-10, 10-5 Big Ten) were coming off a 2-2 stretch in which they had played four straight Top 20 teams, and had an easier time with the struggling Wolverines.
Michigan (13-14, 6-9) got 15 points from Manny Harris, but still fell back below .500 a season after ending an 11-year NCAA tournament drought.
Illinois led 26-18 at the half, holding Michigan to 20 percent shooting, but went into an offensive slump of its own at the start of the second half. The Fighting Illini missed their first nine shots of the half, allowing Michigan to take a 27-26 lead with 15 minutes to play.
Illinois, though, responded with a 15-6 run and held on to win.
