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Men's Basketball

Black's Double-Double Leads Illini Past Purdue, 66-57

Men's Basketball

Black's Double-Double Leads Illini Past Purdue, 66-57

Box Score Jan. 21, 2015

Highlights | Photos | Infographic | Box Score | Printable Box Score | Notes | Game Capsule

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) - Illinois survived a cold start and got double-figure scoring from four players Wednesday to hold off Purdue, 66-57.

Purdue made a late charge but a Nnanna Egwu dunk with 18 seconds left put the Illini up 64-57.

Malcolm Hill led Illinois (13-7, 3-4 Big Ten) with 18 points. Freshman Leron Black had 15 with 13 rebounds, Kendrick Nunn scored 14 points and Egwu 11.

The Illini shot just 28.6 percent in the first half but somehow went to the locker room with a 32-30 lead.

With a block late in the first half, Egwu broke the Illini career blocked-shots record. Deon Thomas had held the record at 177 since 1994. Egwu finished with five Wednesday, giving him a career 179.

Illinois also relied on efficient free throw shooting while keeping the Boilermakers away from the line. Illinois was 21 of 24 while Purdue was just 4 of 9.

Jon Octeus and Raphael Davis led the Boilermakers (11-8, 3-3) with 14 points each.

Purdue played most of the game without leading scorer Kendall Stephens who aggravated a finger he broke earlier in the season.

As the game slipped away late, the Boilermakers' and coach Matt Painter's frustrations showed.

Painter twice called his team to the sideline in the final minutes, sharply criticizing their energy and effort.

"You got something left?" he shouted at one point.

But his counterpart, Jon Groce, seemed to feel a win was within his team's reach. "Let's Go! Get up!" he shouted to the crowd as the Illini dropped back on defense in one of the game's final possessions.

After the Boilermakers closed to within four at 56-52 with 3:30 to play on a 3-pointer by Davis, the Illini closed on a 10-5 run that sealed the win.

Through the game's first 15 minutes, Illinois had to wonder where points would come from.

Nunn, Ahmad Starks and Hill combined to miss their first 10 shots. They didn't get much better from there - with Nunn missing badly on a long, desperate 3-pointer and Starks watching what looked like an easy layup roll off the rim - until Nunn sparked the offense with a little bit of defense.

The sophomore pulled off a pair of steals in the first half's final minutes, both leading to points that keyed an 8-0 run.

The final shot was a 3 from Hill that found nothing but net with 2 seconds left on the clock. It gave the Illini a 32-30 edge that, minutes earlier, seemed highly unlikely. Illinois shot just 28.6 percent in the opening 20 minutes.

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Players Mentioned

Ahmad Starks

#3 Ahmad Starks

G
5' 9"
Redshirt Senior
Leron Black

#12 Leron Black

F
6' 7"
Freshman
Malcolm Hill

#21 Malcolm Hill

G
6' 6"
Sophomore
Kendrick Nunn

#25 Kendrick Nunn

G
6' 3"
Sophomore
Nnanna Egwu

#32 Nnanna Egwu

F/C
6' 11"
Senior
Ahmad Starks

#3 Ahmad Starks

G
5' 9"
Senior
Malcolm Hill

#21 Malcolm Hill

G
6' 6"
Freshman
Kendrick Nunn

#25 Kendrick Nunn

G
6' 3"
Freshman
Nnanna Egwu

#32 Nnanna Egwu

F/C
6' 11"
Junior
Nnanna Egwu

#32 Nnanna Egwu

F/C
6' 11"
Sophomore

Players Mentioned

Ahmad Starks

#3 Ahmad Starks

5' 9"
Redshirt Senior
G
Leron Black

#12 Leron Black

6' 7"
Freshman
F
Malcolm Hill

#21 Malcolm Hill

6' 6"
Sophomore
G
Kendrick Nunn

#25 Kendrick Nunn

6' 3"
Sophomore
G
Nnanna Egwu

#32 Nnanna Egwu

6' 11"
Senior
F/C
Ahmad Starks

#3 Ahmad Starks

5' 9"
Senior
G
Malcolm Hill

#21 Malcolm Hill

6' 6"
Freshman
G
Kendrick Nunn

#25 Kendrick Nunn

6' 3"
Freshman
G
Nnanna Egwu

#32 Nnanna Egwu

6' 11"
Junior
F/C
Nnanna Egwu

#32 Nnanna Egwu

6' 11"
Sophomore
F/C