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Illinois Postgame Notes

#24/25 Illinois 70, American 55
State Farm Center // Dec. 6, 2014 // Attendance: 13,924 


1. Illinois started the year 7-1 for the second straight season under third-year head coach John Groce, who collected his 50th career win at Illinois (50-29).

2. Illinois won its 34th straight non-conference game at State Farm Center, and extended its home-court winning streak in regular-season non-conference games to 45 in a row. The 34-game winning streak at State Farm Center against non-conference opponents ranks fifth nationally.

3. UI reached the 70-point threshold for the sixth time in eight games. The Illini are averaging 83.9 points per game this season.

4. The Illini forced 19 turnovers and capitalized with a 26-15 advantage in points off turnovers.

5. UI made its first 18 free throws of the game and finished a season-best 19-of-21 (90.5 percent) from the charity stripe. Illinois led the Big Ten in free throw percentage entering the day (75.8 percent).

6. Illinois used a 17-2 run in the first half to break the game open, turning a 13-11 edge into a 30-13 margin over seven minutes.

7. The Illini finished with a 29-18 edge in rebounds and did not allow American to grab an offensive rebound.

8. Illinois' bench outscored American's bench 28-3 on the afternoon.

9. Senior Nnanna Egwu blocked three shots and moved into fourth place in Illinois school history with 157 career blocks, surpassing James Griffin (156 blocks from 1979-82).

10. Egwu also drained his fifth three-pointer of the season, equaling his career high from last season, and grabbed a game-high seven rebounds.

11. Sophomore Malcolm Hill led the Illini in scoring for the third time this season with 13 points. Hill entered the season with a career-high of 11 points. He has equaled or surpassed that total in every game this season.

12. Senior Rayvonte Rice scored 10 points, including 8-of-8 on free throws, and has notched double figures in every non-league game of his Illinois career.

13. Sophomore Jaylon Tate tallied a season-high eight points and a game-high four assists.

14. Sophomore Maverick Morgan registered a career-high eight points and equaled his career-best with four rebounds.

15. Sophomore Kendrick Nunn racked up a career-high four steals.