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Illinois Postgame Notes

Illinois 60, Penn State 58
State Farm Center // Jan. 31, 2015 // Attendance: 14,597 


1. Illinois won the game on its final possession for the second time this season and improved to 3-0 in games decided by five points or less. The Illini are 17-5 in contests decided by five points or less under head coach John Groce.

2. The Orange and Blue shot over 50 percent on three-pointers for the third time this season, finishing 8-of-15 (53.3 percent) from distance.

3. Illinois nabbed 12 steals, its second-most this season (15 vs. Indiana State 11/27/14), and forced 19 turnovers.

4. The Illini jumped out to a 13-5 advantage, marking its biggest lead of the game, and carried a 30-26 edge into halftime.

5. After starting 2-of-7 from the free throw line, Illinois hit its final 10 free throws to finish 12-of-17 (70.6 percent) from the charity stripe.

6. Sophomore Malcolm Hill notched his first game-winning basket as an Illini, driving to the hoop and making a layup with 4.4 seconds remaining.

7. Hill finished one shy of his career high, tallying a game-high 27 points. He totaled a career-best 10 field goals and equaled his most threes as an Illini with four.

8. Sophomore Kendrick Nunn racked up a career-high five steals, equaling the most by an Illini since Luther Head had six steals vs. Iowa on Jan. 20, 2005.

9. Senior Nnanna Egwu snagged a career-high four steals and hit the game-tying shot with 57 seconds remaining to even the game at 58.

10. After having a season-high 21 lead changes in their last game at Minnesota, the Illini were in another close contest with 16 lead changes, marking the second-most this year.