National Basketball Association
BOXSCORE | RECAP
Illinois 89, Detroit 69
When: 8:00 PM ET, Friday, November 18, 2016
Where: State Farm Center, Champaign, Illinois
Officials: # Bo Boroski, # Steve Honacki, # Paul Szac
Attendance: 10396

Illinois made eight of its first nine shots from the field in the second half to break away from Detroit Mercy for an 89-69 victory in the NIT Season Tip-Off on Friday night at State Farm Center in Champaign, Ill.

Senior swingman Malcolm Hill scored five of his game-high 25 points in the opening minute of the second half to set the tone for Illinois (4-0). Senior guard Tracy Abrams added 15 points and senior point guard Jaylon Tate contributed a career-high 12 points with six assists.

Junior forward Jaleel Hogan and sophomore guard Josh McFolley paced Detroit (1-2) with 16 points apiece. Senior swingman Chris Jenkins, a preseason second-team All-Horizon League pick, added 13 points and nine rebounds in both teams' opening game of the NIT Season Tip-Off.

Regardless of the results in the first two games of the eight-team tournament, Illinois meets Temple, Florida State and West Virginia for semifinal action on Thanksgiving at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y.

Illinois broke out to a 15-point lead in the opening 12 minutes before Detroit shaved the margin to 39-30 by halftime. The Illini kept the lead from growing by hitting just 9 of 17 free throws in the first half.

Hill changed that dynamic by hitting two free throws on Illinois' first possession of the second half, then converting a traditional 3-point play on the second possession.

Shortly thereafter, Illinois reeled off 11 consecutive points as Abrams started the run with a 3-pointer and Tate capped it with back-to-back driving layups for a 60-38 lead with 13:24 to play. Illinois hit 18 of 21 free throws after halftime.

The Titans, who drilled 12 3-pointers in each of their first two games, struggled to mount a rally as they converted just 5 of 21 3-pointers.
Top Game Performances
 
Detroit   Illinois
Jaleel Hogan 16 Scoring Malcolm Hill 25
Chris Jenkins 3 Assists Jaylon Tate 6
Chris Jenkins 9 Rebounds Mike Thorne Jr. 7
Jaleel Hogan 6 Free Throws Made Malcolm Hill 9
Jaleel Hogan 1 Steals Malcolm Hill 2
Jaleel Hogan 2 Blocks D.J. Williams 1
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Points FG% 3PM-3PA FTM-FTA Assists Rebounds Blocks Steals Turnovers
Detroit 69 42.9 5-21 16-23 8 27 4 2 15
Illinois 89 51.9 8-19 27-38 10 36 1 6 15