Hill
gets Illinois over hump in victory over N.C. State
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[November 30, 2016]
Senior swingman Malcolm Hill and
sophomore forward Leron Black scored 30 of their 37 points in the
second half to spark Illinois to an 88-74 victory over North
Carolina State in ACC/Big Ten Challenge play on Tuesday night in
Champaign, Ill.
Hill, who subsisted on five free throws in the first half, finished
with a team-high 22 points, nine rebounds and four assists to help
Illinois (5-3) snap a three-game losing streak. Senior guard Tracy
Abrams posted 17 points and three steals while Black came off the
bench to score 13 of his 15 points after halftime.
North Carolina State (5-2) shot 52.8 percent from the field and 92.3
percent at the line, but couldn't overcome 19 turnovers in its only
true road game during non-conference play. Sophomore guard Torin
Dorn led the Wolfpack with 17 points and seven rebounds and junior
forward Abdul-Malik Abu added 16 points.
Five-star freshman point guard Dennis Smith Jr., who had posted at
least 20 points in each of North Carolina State's last four games,
settled for 12 points on 4-of-11 shooting. The Wolfpack entered the
game with more free throws made than their opponents attempted for
the season, but the Illini converted 21 while the Wolfpack tried
only 13.
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After a ragged first half that found North Carolina State leading
33-32 at the break despite committing 13 turnovers, both teams came
out scorching the nets in the second half. The Wolfpack canned their
first five field goals, but the Illini hit their first six shots to
claim a 46-45 edge with 16 minutes to play.
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While North Carolina State cooled off slightly, Illinois kept
finding open mid-range jumpers and seized a 67-57 lead -- the
largest for either team at that juncture -- on Hill's 12-footer in
the lane with 8:36 to go.
North Carolina State's chances to rally were ruined symbolically
with 2:56 left when Hill was fouled 35 feet from the hoop while
trying to throw the ball at the basket to avoid a shot-clock
violation. Hill sank all 3 free throws to give Illinois an 82-67
lead.
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