CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) - Malcolm Hill scored a career-high 34 points and had 11 rebounds, and Illinois never trailed in a 91-79 victory over South Dakota on Saturday.
Hill was 10 of 16 from the floor with four 3-pointers and had five assists. Jalen Coleman-Lands added 17 points with four 3s for Illinois (7-5), which has won four straight.
Tre Burnette had a career-best 27 points on 10-of-17 shooting to lead South Dakota (7-5).
The Illini opened on a 14-0 run behind eight-straight defensive stops, and led 55-36 at the break.
Burnette made three 3-pointers and Trey Norris made a jumper during an 11-4 spurt to pull the Coyotes to 84-78 with two minutes left. Michael Finke answered with a 3-pointer, and Hill and Coleman-Lands each made a pair of free throws to seal it.
Illinois shot 47 percent on 14-of-30 shooting from beyond the arc.
TIP-INS
Illinois: Malcolm Hill has scored in double figures in each game this season. His career-high against South Dakota surpasses his previous career-best 28 points against Maryland in Jan. 2015. ... Michael Finke finished with 13 points and Kendrick Nunn added 10 points as the Illini had four players in double figures. ... The Illini beat South Dakota in their previous meeting, 96-56 during the 1971-72 season.
