|
Rice finished 8-for-12 from the field for Illinois (1-0), hitting
3-of-4 from 3-point range. Aaron Cosby added 16 points, Malcolm Hill
scored 11 and Ahmad Starks finished with 10, but the Fighting Illini
were tied at 31 at halftime and did not put the game away until the
final minutes.
Jelani Hewitt hit five 3-pointers en route to scoring a team-high 22
points for Georgia Southern (0-1), which shot 35.9 percent from the
field and committed 16 turnovers. Trent Wiedeman contributed 17
points with nine rebounds in his Georgia Southern debut.
Illinois led by as many as 11 in the early minutes but Georgia
Southern weathered the storm, taking a 22-19 lead with 6:31 left in
the opening half on back-to-back Hewitt 3-pointers. Two three-point
plays from Wiedeman and two Angel Matias’ baskets helped the Eagles
forge a 41-41 tie four minutes into the second half.
Cosby’s 3-pointer with 7:22 to play gave the Fighting Illini a 59-50
lead, but the Eagles battled back to within 64-61 on two Hewitt free
throws with 4:29 remaining. Rice hit two free throws on the ensuing
possession, jump-starting a game-ending 16-10 run during which Cosby
and Rice drained 3-pointers.
[to top of second column] |
GAME NOTEBOOK: Illinois leads the all-time series 4-0 and has won 41
consecutive regular-season home games against non-conference
competition. … Hewitt converted a four-point play with just over six
minutes to play. … Hill shot 7-for-10 from the free-throw line as
Illinois finished 27-for-34.
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