Illinois Shoots Down Central Michigan, 92-73!
By Jeff Mayfield

[December 12, 2016]  The Illinois Fighting Illini used a 16-0 run in the middle of the first half and another great run to begin the 2nd half on their way to a convincing 92-73 thrashing of the Central Michigan Chippewas! The Illini continued in what this reporter hopes will be a season-long trend…shooting well at home. Illinois lit the lamps for 53% shooting for the game and 43% from distance!

Senior Tracy Abrams led the way for Illinois by scoring a career-high 31 points. There must have been something in the water as Leron Black also scored a career-high 21 points.

Illinois held the high-scoring Chippewas about 20 points below their season average of scoring 90+ points a game. A host of defenders held the nation’s leading scorer Marcus Keene, who was averaging 31+ points per game, to 25. And he needed 23 shots to attain his point total.

The Illini out-rebounded Central Michigan 49-25 that led to a commanding 34-14 advantage on points in the paint. Illinois’ bench also outscored CMU 17-10.

With the win Illinois’ record moves to 8-3 and they will next play a couple of neutral site games versus BYU and Missouri before opening Big Ten play on the road at Maryland.

My 3 Stars:

Tracy Abrams - 31 points (on 10 for 12 shooting), 5 rebounds & 3 assists

Leron Black - 21 points (on 9 for 13 shooting)

Mike Thorne, Jr/Maverick Morgan - 8 points, 11 rebounds/11 points 7 rebounds

Special mention-Jaylon Tate - a decent defensive game and dished out 5 assists

[By JEFF MAYFIELD]

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