CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Tracy Abrams proved that he was back to top shape -- or even better -- when he scored a career-high 31 points and led Illinois in a 92-73 drubbing of Central Michigan on Saturday afternoon.
Abrams scored 23 points in the first half and finished 7 of 8 from 3-point range on a day when he scored his 1,000th career point with Illinois (8-3).
It's been a long road for the guard from Chicago who missed the last two seasons with knee injuries. Despite the difficult journey, Abrams had a priority for whom to credit for his on-court success.
"My teammates for giving me the ball and just the hard work, being in the gym a lot." Abrams said. "It just shows that hard work pays off."
Illinois shot at or above 50 percent from the field in the first 10 minutes, but a six-minute Central Michigan scoring drought allowed Illinois to go on a 23-3 run and lead by as many as 19 points in the first half.
Leron Black played another compete game from the bench, scoring a career-high 21 points.
Illinois played its last nonconference game at home of the season, a game in which coach John Groce thought his team continued to grow and find its identity.
"It was our most complete performance of the season," Groce said. "I think it's something that we can build upon."
Illinois won the rebound battle 49-25 and outscored the Chippewas in the paint 34-14.
"We had great attitude, great effort and just got beat by an ever-improving Illinois team," Central Michigan coach Keno Davis said. "They were able to expose the weakness of being not as physical, big and strong as they are."
Marcus Keene, the nation's leading scorer entering the day at 31.4 points per game, led Central Michigan (8-3) with 25 points and Braylon Rayson added 18.
UP NEXT
Illinois will have the week off before the team travels to Chicago to play BYU in the State Farm Chicago Legends game, Saturday, Dec. 17, at 8:30 pm CT.
ILLINOIS POSTGAME NOTES
- Saturday's win over Central Michigan was the fourth straight for the Fighting Illini, who are now 8-3 on the season.
- Senior Tracy Abrams became the 49th Illini to score 1,000 points in his career. He had a career-high 31 points, bettering his pervious career best of 27 against Auburn 12/29/12. He hit 10-of-12 from the field, 7-of-8 from three-point range and 4-of-6 from the free throw line.
- Abrams' ten field goals (10-12) set a career high for the senior, besting his output at Hawaii (11/16/12).
- Abrams is the first NCAA Division I player in a game this season to make 10+ field goals, 7+ three-pointers and shoot 80% or better from the field.
- Abrams scored the most points in a first half by an Illini this season with 23 before the break.
- Abrams set a career high for three-pointers in a game with seven treys (7-8) from distance. Abrams is the first Illini to hit seven or more threes in a game since Brandon Paul made eight against Ohio State 1/10/12.
- Illinois had a season-high 49 rebounds. The Illini out-rebounded Central Michigan by 24 (49-25), a season best for rebound margin.
- Six Illini registered at least five rebounds in the win, the most in a game this season. Mike Throne Jr. led the way with 11 boards, while Morgan (7), Finke (5), Abrams (5), Hill (5) and Williams (5) also grabbed at least five.
- Illinois has double-digit offensive rebounds in six of its last seven games (13 today).
- Illinois held Central Michigan to a season-low 36 first-half points. The Chippewas were averaging 43.3 points in the first half this season.
- The first half was Illinois' third-best shooting first half of the season (.529), trailing only McKendree (.538) and Southeast Missouri (.556).
- Illinois has shot better than 50% in six games this season, all Illini victories. The Orange and Blue are 6-0 when shooting 50% or better and 2-3 when shooting under 50%.
- Senior guard Malcolm Hill's 10 points against Central Michigan gives him 1,451 for his career and moves him past Don Freeman (1,449) for 15th on Illinois' all-time list.
- Leron Black set a new career high with 21 points, topping his previous high of 18 set a week ago vs. VCU (12/3/16)
- Maverick Morgan scored in double figures for the third time this season. The previous two came against McKendree (11/15) and Southeast Missouri (11/11).
- Mike Thorne Jr. grabbed a season-high 11 rebounds on Saturday, surpassing his previous high of 10 against McKendree (11/15).
- Sophomore D.J. Williams tied his career high for rebounds with five, tying his total at Rutgers 2/16/16.
- Williams set a season-high for minutes played, clocking 18 minutes to surpass his previous total of 18 against Southeast Missouri (11/11)
- Samson Oladimeji registered his first points as an Illini with two free throws.
