Matt Gatens scored 20 points to help Iowa defeat Illinois 64-61 Thursday in the first round of the Big Ten tournament in what might have been the final game for Illini coach Bruce Weber.

Speculation has been that Weber would be fired after the season. The Illini closed the regular season having lost 8 of 9.

Illinois nearly saved Weber for at least another day - D.J. Richardson missed a 3-pointer in the closing seconds that would have tied the score.

Meyers Leonard had 18 points and six rebounds and D.J. Richardson and James Bertrand added 11 points each for Illinois (17-15). Brandon Paul, Illinois' top scorer, finished with four points on 2 for 11 shooting and committed seven turnovers.

Aaron White had 13 points and nine rebounds for eighth-seeded Iowa (17-15), which has won 4 of its last six and will play No. 1 seed Michigan State on Friday.

NCAA Top-25 Men's Basketball  (ESPN/"USA Today" Rankings)
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#2 Syracuse Orange 58, Connecticut Huskies 55
(Big East quarterfinals at New York, NY)

#3 Kansas Jayhawks 83, Texas A&M Aggies 66
(Big 12 quarterfinals at Kansas City, MO)

Louisville Cardinals 84, #9 Marquette Golden Eagles 71
(Big East quarterfinals at New York, NY)

#11 Baylor Bears 82, Kansas State Wildcats 74
(Big 12 Tournament quarterfinals at Kansas City, MO)

Cincinnati Bearcats 72, #14 Georgetown Hoyas 70
(Big East quarterfinals at New York, NY)

#15 Indiana Hoosiers 75, Penn State Nittany Lions 58
(Big Ten Tournament first round  at Indianapolis, IN)

#20 UNLV Rebels 56, Wyoming Cowboys 48
(Mountain West Tournament quarterfinals at Las Vegas, NV)

#21 San Diego State Aztecs 65, Boise State Broncos 62
(Mountain West Tournament quarterfinals at Las Vegas, NV)

#23 Notre Dame Fighting Irish 57, South Florida Bulls 53 (OT)
(Big East quarterfinals at New York, NY)