No. 20 Illini Drop Hard-Fought Battle at No. 17 Tennessee

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – No. 20 Illinois dropped a hard-fought road game at No. 17 Tennessee, 86-79, at Food City Center on Saturday afternoon.

Quincy Guerrier led the way offensively for the Fighting Illini, registering a season-high 22 points after scoring eight of the team's first 10 points of the day. Guerrier knocked down three 3-pointers, and he also recorded five rebounds.

Terrence Shannon Jr. hit double figures for the 19th consecutive game, matching Guerrier's 22-point effort. Now scoring at least 15 points in each of the Illini's nine contests this season, Shannon was perfect from the free-throw line (11-11) and accumulated four rebounds and a block.

Coleman Hawkins added a season-high 12 points, and he connected from deep on three occasions. Hawkins also notched a team-high four assists and two steals, and he grabbed four boards.

Illinois trailed by as many as eight points midway through the first period, but closed the half on a 16-6 run to take a 36-34 lead into break. 

Out of the intermission, the Illini led 44-40 with 16:33 to play. Tennessee took control over the next 5 minutes, however, mounting a 17-5 scoring run that put the Illini in a 58-49 deficit with 11 minutes remaining. 

UT briefly pushed the lead to as many as 12 and despite a late-game push, the Orange and Blue were unable to climb closer than five in the waning seconds of the contest. 

The contest closes a stretch of three game in seven days away from home in which the Illini posted a 2-1 mark with a road win at Rutgers and a neutral-site victory over No. 11 Florida Atlantic.  

The Illini (7-2) now return home to take on Colgate on Sunday, Dec. 17, at 12 p.m. CT. The game will be the first contest in a doubleheader, followed by the Illini women's basketball team's matchup with Missouri. Both contests will air on Big Ten Network.

Press Conference

Postgame Notes

Player Notes

• Terrence Shannon Jr. scored 22 points, secured four rebounds and added an assist.
  • Has scored at least 15 points in every game this season.
    • Has scored in double figures in 19-straight contests dating back to Jan. 31, 2023.
  • Sixth 20-point game of the season, all coming in the last seven contests.
  • Went 11-for-11 from the free-throw line.
    • Has back-to-back games with 11 makes from the charity stripe.
• Quincy Guerrier scored a season-high 22 points and grabbed five rebounds.
  • Made a season-high three 3-pointers.
    • First game this season with multiple makes from deep.
  • Third Illini this season with a 20-point performance.
  • Has six games this season with at least five rebounds.
• Coleman Hawkins scored a season-high 12 points, had four rebounds and dished out a team-high four assists.
  • Made a season-high three 3-pointers.
  • Second game this season with at least four assists.
• Luke Goode scored eight points off of the bench, grabbed a team-high seven rebounds and had two steals.