CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) – Sophomore Trent Frazier scored 25 points to lead Illinois to a 73-55 victory over East Tennessee State Saturday at State Farm Center.
Giorgi Bezhanishvili scored 15 points and Kipper Nichols added 14 for Illinois (4-7). Aaron Jordan had a game-high 10 rebounds.
The Illini dominated the first half, going on a 14-0 run at one point and leading by as many as 30 before going into the break with 43-18 lead. Frazier hit five 3-pointers in the half to lead the charge.
Kipper Nichols hit a reverse layup for Illinois with three defenders all but hanging on him early in the game, which brought the crowd to its feet and kicked off the 14-0 Illini scoring run.
"I liked today," Illinois coach Brad Underwood said. "We played well from top to bottom, at both ends of the court."
Illinois shot 43 percent (26 of 60) from the field while ETSU shot 35 percent (18 of 52). The Illini hit 10 of 25 3-pointers, the Bucs 6 of 22.
"I give all the credit to Illinois," ETSU coach Steve Forbes said. "They took us out of our offense early and we struggled to deal with it the whole game. They deny an offense like no other team."
The Bucs adjusted to the Illini's swarming man-to-man defense in the second half and slowly started to crawl back into the game, outscoring Illinois 37-30. But 3-pointers by Da'Monte Williams. Frazier and Jordan kept Illinois' lead intact.
"That first half was the best we've played all year," Underwood said.
"Their record is not indicative of who they are as a team," Forbes said. "They've played a tough schedule, no puffy games at all."
ETSU (8-4) was led by Daivien Williamson's 19 points. Patrick Good scored 11 points and Jeromy Rodriguez grabbed 7 rebounds for the Buccaneers.
Illinois starting guard Ayo Dosunmu and backup guard Alan Griffin dressed but didn't play because they were late to the morning shoot-around, team officials said.
TRAVEL WOES
The Bucs had travel problems. After being forced to fly to Chicago's Midway Airport Friday night because central Illinois was socked in with heavy fog, their bags didn't make the trip and the bus broke down on its way to Champaign.
"It was a little bizarre," Forbes said. "We got in to Chicago about 9:30 or 10 last night. No bags. Got on the bus, the bus broke down. Had to get a new bus."
The team didn't get to their hotel until after 3 a.m. The luggage didn't arrive until less than two hours before the start of the game, causing the coaching staff to resort to wearing sweatpants and warm-up jackets instead of the usual suit and tie.
"We're going to bus home," Forbes said. "I'm not getting back on that plane again."
UP NEXT
In the midst of final exams, Illinois (4-7) is off until next Saturday, Dec. 22, when they travel to St. Louis to face Missouri in the annual Braggin' Rights rivalry game.
ILLINOIS POSTGAME NOTES
TEAM NOTES
• Saturday's game marked the first-ever meeting between Illinois and East Tennessee State.
• Illinois opened the game on a 29-5 run, holding ETSU to just two field goals in the first 13:41 of game time.
• The Illini defense forced ETSU to go scoreless for 12:43 between its first and second field goals of the game. During the drought, the Buccanneers missed 10 shots and had nine turnovers.
• Illinois held a halftime lead of 25 points (43-18), its second-largest of the season (31 vs. Evansville 11/8/18).
INDIVIDUAl NOTES
• Trent Frazier scored 25 points on 8-14 shooting (57%), including 6-8 from three point range.
• Frazier scored 18 points in the first half, matching ETSU's output.
• Frazier's six made three pointers tied for the most made by an Illini in a game this season (Frazier vs. Gonzaga) and is one shy of his career high.
• Kipper Nichols finished with 14 points (6-13 FG), scoring in double figures for the fifth time in the last six games.
• Aaron Jordan tied a career high with 10 rebounds.
• Freshmen Ayo Dosumnu and Alan Griffin did not play due to team rules violation.
