It was a roller coaster of a game, but the Illinois basketball team still managed to get the victory.

On Sunday, the Illini took on a tough Washington team on the road. This was the second of two west coast contests for the Orange and Blue. After taking down No. 9 Oregon, Illinois was set up for a letdown game.

That was nearly the result, as the Illini let a 17-point lead slip away. Washington managed to tie the game in the waning moments, but Illinois salted the game away at the free throw line. Despite the efforts by the Huskies, the Illini ended up beating Washington, 81-77.

Here are five huge observations from the Illinois basketball win over Washington

1. Kasparas Jakucionis came through in crunch time

For much of the game on Sunday afternoon, the Illinois basketball team had control. We had a 17-point lead at one time, and there were numerous occasions in the second half when the lead would be in double digits.

Washington never gave up, though. They kept coming at us, mainly with the play of DJ Davis. In the blink of an eye, a double-digit lead was narrowed down to a tied game, 75-75, with under a minute to play.

Kasparas Jakucionis was playing well for much of the game. He had his patented step-back three-pointer he knocked down. His playmaking ability was on-point, as he was creating for others. Jakucionis’ unselfish play on the court helps keep everyone involved and moving.

Toward the end of the game, when it was tied up, Illinois needed someone to step up. We needed a hero on the court. Jakucionis answered the call.

Immediately, after the bucket by Washington, Jakucionis took things into his own hands. He drove the ball with his left hand and finished at the rim. He then made both of his free throws seconds later, and just like that, the Illinois lead increased to four points with 12 seconds left. This put Washington behind the eight ball.

It may not seem like much, four points in the final 32 seconds, but it is more than just the scoring. Jakucionis has the intangibles you need to succeed. He has a veteran leadership and understanding of the game that is way beyond his years. You can tell this kid has played is some serious leagues overseas because he already has a professional mentality. That mentality helped Illinois prevail on Sunday.