National Basketball Association
Illinois 89, Detroit 69
When: 8:00 PM ET, Friday, November 18, 2016
Where: State Farm Center, Champaign, Illinois
Officials:
# Bo Boroski, # Steve Honacki, # Paul Szac
Attendance:
10396
By The Sports Xchange
Illinois made eight of its first nine shots from the field in the second half to break away from Detroit Mercy for an 89-69 victory in the NIT Season Tip-Off on Friday night at State Farm Center in Champaign, Ill.
Senior swingman Malcolm Hill scored five of his game-high 25 points in the opening minute of the second half to set the tone for Illinois (4-0). Senior guard Tracy Abrams added 15 points and senior point guard Jaylon Tate contributed a career-high 12 points with six assists.
Junior forward Jaleel Hogan and sophomore guard Josh McFolley paced Detroit (1-2) with 16 points apiece. Senior swingman Chris Jenkins, a preseason second-team All-Horizon League pick, added 13 points and nine rebounds in both teams' opening game of the NIT Season Tip-Off.
Regardless of the results in the first two games of the eight-team tournament, Illinois meets Temple, Florida State and West Virginia for semifinal action on Thanksgiving at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y.
Illinois broke out to a 15-point lead in the opening 12 minutes before Detroit shaved the margin to 39-30 by halftime. The Illini kept the lead from growing by hitting just 9 of 17 free throws in the first half.
Hill changed that dynamic by hitting two free throws on Illinois' first possession of the second half, then converting a traditional 3-point play on the second possession.
Shortly thereafter, Illinois reeled off 11 consecutive points as Abrams started the run with a 3-pointer and Tate capped it with back-to-back driving layups for a 60-38 lead with 13:24 to play. Illinois hit 18 of 21 free throws after halftime.
The Titans, who drilled 12 3-pointers in each of their first two games, struggled to mount a rally as they converted just 5 of 21 3-pointers.
Top Game Performances
| Detroit |
|
Illinois |
|
Jaleel Hogan 16 |
Scoring |
Malcolm Hill 25 |
|
Chris Jenkins 3 |
Assists |
Jaylon Tate 6 |
|
Chris Jenkins 9 |
Rebounds |
Mike Thorne Jr. 7 |
|
Jaleel Hogan 6 |
Free Throws Made |
Malcolm Hill 9 |
|
Jaleel Hogan 1 |
Steals |
Malcolm Hill 2 |
|
Jaleel Hogan 2 |
Blocks |
D.J. Williams 1 |
Team Stats Summary
| Team |
Points |
FG% |
3PM-3PA |
FTM-FTA |
Assists |
Rebounds |
Blocks |
Steals |
Turnovers |
| Detroit
|
69 |
42.9 |
5-21 |
16-23 |
8 |
27 |
4 |
2 |
15 |
| Illinois
|
89 |
51.9 |
8-19 |
27-38 |
10 |
36 |
1 |
6 |
15 |
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