Indianapolis, IN -- (Sports Network) - Shaun Pruitt scored 16 points and Brian Randle added 11, as Illinois advanced to the Big Ten championship game with a 54-50 victory over Minnesota at Conseco Fieldhouse.

The Illini (16-18) have won three games in three days at this tournament by a combined 12 points -- one coming in overtime -- and will have a chance to steal an NCAA Tournament bid on Sunday in the title game against eighth-ranked Wisconsin.

Illinois, the 10th seed, is in somewhat familiar territory. The Illini reached the conference tournament championship game as an 11th seed in 1999 before falling to top-seeded Michigan State. This will be Illinois' sixth trip to the Big Ten championship game. They won it all in 2003 and 2005, and lost to Wisconsin in 2004.

Minnesota (20-13) is likely headed to the NIT after its third visit to the Big Ten semifinals. The Gophers have never been to the championship game.

Lawrence McKenzie was the lone Minnesota player in double figures with 13 points.

Illinois scored seven straight points to erase an early 2-0 deficit and opened a 13-5 lead midway through a slow-paced opening half. Minnesota closed within three at 15-12, but the Illini again pulled away and carried a 29-23 advantage to the break.

The Gophers chipped away early in the second half and a bucket by Jonathan Williams with just under 12 minutes remaining tied it at 32-32. Chester Frazier followed with a pair of free throws for Illinois and Demetri McCamey drilled a three-pointer before Calvin Brock's jumper gave the Illini some breathing room at 39-32.

A McKenzie three-pointer kept Minnesota close and it was a three-point game moments later at 41-38, but Illinois followed with a 9-2 run. A transition dunk by Pruitt and a layup by Randle capped the surge, as the Illini built a 10-point cushion at 50-40 with 2 1/2 minutes remaining.

The Gophers tried to make it interesting, clawing to within four with 22 seconds left. After an Illinois turnover, McKenzie missed a shot and the Illini held on for the victory.