Illinois' Kylan Boswell and Chicago State's Matthew Robinson, Jr. (10) chase the ball during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024, in Champaign, Ill.
Illinois has a huge week ahead as it dives back into Big Ten play. From this point on, the Illini will face nothing but tough challenges.
The Fighting Illini head to the road to face No. 9 Oregon Thursday before returning home to face Washington Sunday.
But first they got some post-holiday exercise against winless Chicago State Sunday. The Fighting Illini loosened up their shooting arms while racing to a 57-18 lead with 1:20 left in the first half.
They finished with an 117-64 victory. Coach Brad Underwood left Kylan Boswell in the game long enough to earn a triple-double with 18 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists.
After missing 21-of-23 shots from 3-poinr range during his previous five games, promising freshman Will Riley hit 2-of-5 shots from behind the arc in this game. So that was a notable positive to take from this light workout.
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Elsewhere in the region, Missouri Valley Conference action resumed with Missouri State losing big at Evansville and SIU Carbondale falling short at Northern Iowa.
Drake (12-0) and Bradley (11-2) are the teams to beat in the Valley this season, but 10 of the 12 teams have won seven or more games so far. Once again there is more competitive balance in the MVC than in most mid-major leagues.
Here is how the region’s Division I teams stack up as conference play heats up:
ILLINOIS (9-3)
The blowout allowed Underwood to give his reserves a good run. Guard Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn made the most of his extended opportunity while scoring 16 points in 19 minutes. He had scored just 14 points combined while seeing limited action in his previous five games. In 21 minutes Morez Johnson Jr. had 11 points, eight rebounds, three blocked shots and two steals while working over an overmatched foe. Forwards Jake Davis (13 minutes) and Carey Booth (11) saw more than their usual spot duty.
MISSOURI (10-2)
The Tigers return to action with Monday’s game against Alabama State, another Southwestern Athletic Conference team coming to Boone County on a fundraising trip. The Hornets, who feature strong guard play, have earned non-conference victories over Lamar, Omaha and UT Martin. Expect them to put up a decent fight. Missouri coach Dennis Gates will get his last chance to empty the bench ahead of the Southeastern Conference gauntlet. Since his last cameo start against California on Dec. 3, top recruit Annor Boateng has played in just one game, the blowout victory over Long Island University, when he played nine ineffective minutes. With Caleb Grill still recovering from his neck injury, this game also offers playing time guard Marques Warrick and freshman T.O. Barrett -- who has appeared in just six games while playing four or fewer minutes in five of them. Things will get real for Truman Saturday when they open SEC play at powerful Auburn.
SLU (7-6)
With Isaiah Swope sidelined by knee soreness and Kellen Thames still shelved by a hip flexor injury, Billikens coach Josh Schertz leaned hard on deep reserves Max Pikaar (six rebounds, five blocked shots in 24 minutes) and activated redshirt Dylan Warlick (six rebounds in 25 minutes) during the 78-57 homecourt victory over NAIA power William Woods Saturday. But as you would expect, Gibson Jimerson (28 points) and Robbie Avila (23 points, six rebounds, six assists, four steals) did the heavy lifting. Forward A.J. Casey continued his comeback from injury with his first game action since Nov. 10. Ready or not, the battered Billikens will dive into Atlantic 10 action Tuesday at Fordham.
SEMO (7-6)
The Redhawks ran their winning streak to four games by handling Division III Westminster 88-39 at home Sunday. Rob Martin (17 points, seven rebounds, four assists) and Braxton Stacker (16 points, five rebounds) led the way. Brendan Terry had 10 points, four rebounds, three assists and three steals in just 14 minutes. The competition gets much stiffer for SEMO this week as it hits the road this week for Ohio Valley Conference games at Tennessee State and UT Martin. But the much-improved Redhawks are well on their way to bettering their 9-22 finish from a year ago.
MISSOURI STATE (7-6)
The Bears went stone cold at Evansville Sunday while losing 57-40. Dez White and Vincent Brady II combined to miss 21-of-25 shots. Overall, Missouri State shot just 25.9 percent from the field, including 20 percent from 3-point range. Coach Cuonzo Martin will try to get the team back on track at home against Valparaiso Wednesday. Come Saturday, the Bears will have a nationally televised game at Bradley. Odds are, that won't be a fun trip.
SIU EDWARDSVILLE (7-6)
After stumbling to a 0-2 start in the OVC with losses at Little Rock and SEMO, the Cougars will try to get back on track this week with home games against Western Illinois Thursday and Lindenwood Saturday. The Cougars have scored 80 or more points in three of their last four games but they need to tighten up their play at the other end of the court.
SIU CARBONDALE (5-8)
The Salukis got back into MVC action by losing 78-67 at Northern Iowa despite getting 20 points and six rebounds from forward Jarrett Hensley. The Panthers contained SIUC guard Ali Dibbi, holding him to 10 points on 4-for-13 shooting overall and 0-for-4 shooting from 3-point range. Freshman guard Drew Steffe played a season-high 26 minutes and scored eight points with 2-for-4 shooting from 3-point range. He had two assists, a steal and no turnovers. The Salukis return home to face Evansville Wednesday before they hit the road to play Illinois State on Sunday.
LINDENWOOD (6-7)
The Lions head to the OVC road this week for games at Eastern Illinois Thursday and SIUE on Saturday. Lindenwood split its first two league games. losing to Tennessee Tech and defeating Western Illinois at home before the holidays.
