Nov. 27, 2013

Recap |  Box Score

Illinois Postgame Notes

Illinois 61, UNLV 59
Thomas & Mack Center, Las Vegas, Nev. // Nov. 26, 2013 // Attendance: 13,747

Team Notes
1. After opening the season with a five-game home stand, Illinois picked up its first road win of the season on Thursday night in Las Vegas. It was the Illini's eighth consecutive non-conference road win dating back to the 2008-09 campaign.

2. Illinois is 6-0 for the third consecutive season and is now 14-0 in November under head coach John Groce. Overall, the Illini have won their last 25 games in the month of November.

3. Illinois overcame a 10-point halftime deficit, 39-29, storming back with a 15-5 run to tie the game at 44 with 13:19 remaining. Later in the game, the Illini trailed 57-51 with 6:07 to play, but finished the game on a 10-2 run, holding the Rebels scoreless for the final 4:16 of the game.

4. The Illini outrebounded the Rebels 41-40 and pulled down 15 offensive boards, leading to a 19-8 edge in second chance points. Entering the game, Illinois had rebounded 47 percent of its misses, ranking fourth in the nation in offensive rebound percentage.

5. The Illini tightened the screws defensively in the second half, holding the Rebels to just 20 points on 32 percent shooting (0-of-5 from three-point range) after the break.

6. Illinois has held each of its first six opponents to 63 points or less this season, something an Illini team hasn't done since the 2006-07 season.

7. Illinois has yet to allow an opponent to shoot 40 percent from the field this season (UNLV shot 37.5 percent).

Individual Notes
1. Junior guard Rayvonte Rice poured in a season-high 25 points, including the winning bucket with 28 seconds remaining. He also added 10 rebounds for his first double-double as an Illini, and four steals. Rice has scored in double figures in all six games this season. Rice was the UI's leading scorer vs. Alabama State (22 points), Valparaiso (18) and UNLV (25), added 13 each vs. Jacksonville State and Bradley and had 12 vs. Chicago State.

2. Junior forward/center Nnanna Egwu hit 2-of-3 from three-point range against the Rebels, both at key points in the second half. The first gave the Illini their first lead of the second half, 47-46, and the second brought the Illini within three, 57-54, with under six minutes remaining. Entering the game, he had made just one three in his first 73 games as an Illini. Egwu finished with 12 points, three rebounds, and two blocks despite missing 16 minutes in the first half due to foul trouble.

3. Freshman point guard Jaylon Tate had five assists and just one turnover on the night, including three straight assists to Egwu during the Illini comeback early in the second half. Tate found Egwu for back-to-back alley oops and then on a pick-and-pop for a three-pointer on three consecutive possessions to give the Illini a 47-46 lead with 12:38 remaining. Tate entered the game second in the conference with a 4.5 assist/to ratio.