CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Kipper Nichols scored 16 points and Maverick Morgan had 12 points and 11 rebounds in Illinois' 68-59 loss to Minnesota on Saturday.
Minnesota scored the first seven points of the second half to take a 42-35 lead for good.
Nichols led the way for Illinois (13-11, 3-8 Big Ten) with a career-high 16 points. Malcolm Hill added 13 points and four rebounds.
Neither team shot well but Minnesota went 7 of 19 from 3-point range to 4 of 22 for Illinois.
Reggie Lynch scored 15 points to lead Minnesota. Akeem Springs added 14 points and Nate Mason and Amir Coffey had 13 apiece for the Golden Gophers (16-7, 4-6 Big Ten)
UP NEXT
The Illini head to Evanston to face Northwestern on Tuesday (7 pm CT on BTN)
ILLINOIS POSTGAME NOTES
- The 15,544 attendance marks the first sellout at renovated State Farm Center and 257th since the building opened during the 1962-63 season. Illinois' last sellout came on March 4, 2015 against Nebraska.
- Malcolm Hill became the fifth player in Illinois history with at least 1,600 points and 600 rebounds, joining Deon Thomas, Brian Cook, Eddie Johnson and Mark Smith.
- Kipper Nichols set his career high for points (16), three-pointers made (3) and field goals (6, tied). Nichols had 13 points in the first half, which matched his previous career high for a game (13 vs. Michigan, 1/11/17).
- Maverick Morgan registered his third double-double of the season and fourth of his career with 12 points and 11 rebounds. Morgan had double-doubles against BYU (14 points, 10 rebounds) and Missouri (19 points, 11 rebounds) this season.
- Malcolm Hill scored in double figures for the 18th straight game (13 points).
- Malcolm Hill moved within two points of No. 9 on Illinois' all-time scoring list and within three points of No. 8. Hill has 1,651 career points, just behind Mark Smith's 1,653 (1978-81) and Brandon Paul's 1,654 (2010-13).
