Former Illinois player Downey donates $2 million to arena

David Downey, a former Illinois basketball player has donated $2 million to the university’s arena renovation project.

The university said Thursday the Courtside Club will be called Club 53 when the renovation of the State Farm Center is complete. The name is in recognition of the 53 points Downey scored in a game against Indiana in 1963. It remains the Illinois single-game record.