Dec. 28, 2013

Recap | Highlights |  Box Score |  Photos

Illinois Postgame Notes

 Illinois 74, UIC 60
United Center, Chicago // Dec. 28, 2013 // Attendance: 13,017


 1. Illinois improves to 35-12 (.745) all-time at the United Center and wraps up non-conference play with an 11-2 mark.

2. After trailing the Flames by 10 at halftime, 44-34, the Illini exploded in the second half starting with an 8-0 run in the first 1:04 and extending that to a 31-11 run to take a 10-point lead, 65-55, midway through the second half.

3. Illinois trailed by as many as 13 in the first half, 39-26, with 3:46 left, and trailed by 10 at the break. It marks the third time the Illini came back from a double-digit deficit to win this season (trailed by 10 at UNLV and by 11 vs. IPFW) and the seventh time in Groce's two seasons at Illinois.

4. Junior transfer Rayvonte Rice had a season-high 28 points, including 16 in the second half, to lead the Illini. It was just one off his career-high of 29 points set in 2011 when he played for Drake. Rice hit 10-of-16 from the field, 3-of-5 from behind the arc and 5-of-8 from the line while also adding six rebounds and three assists.

5. Rice continued his string of scoring at least 12 points in every game this season. He is the first Illini newcomer to score double figures in each of his first 13 games since Kenny Battle did so in his first 13 games in 1987-88. Battle was also a junior transfer (Northern Illinois).

6. Illinois allowed a season-high 44 first-half points but a season-low 16 points in the second half. Illinois previous low-point total allowed was 17 in the first half against Auburn.

7. Illinois had a season-low four turnovers, including only one in the first half.

8. After allowing UIC to shoot 62 percent from the field and 7-of-12 on 3-pointers in the first half, the Illini D buckled down and held the Flames to 26 percent shooting (6-for-26) in the second half and 0-for-7 from the 3-point line.

9. After Kelsey Barlow exploded for 18 points on 7-of-12 shooting in the first half, the Illini, with Rice as the primary defender, limited him to three points on 1-of-7 shooting in the second half.

10. Junior guard Tracy Abrams stuffed the stat sheet with 16 points, four assists, three rebounds, two blocks and one steal. In five games at the United Center, Abrams is averaging 13.0 points per game, 4.0 rebounds per game, 2.8 assists per game, and 1.4 steals per game.

11. Senior guard Joseph Bertrand added 14 points for the Illini on only seven attempts, scoring in double-figures for the eighth time in non-conference play.