Hoosiers Hand Illini Big Ten Loss, College Scores

Champaign, IL (SportsNetwork.com) -- Troy Williams and James Blackmon Jr. both tallied 21 points as the Indiana Hoosiers grabbed the 80-74 win over the Illinois Fighting Illini in a Big Ten Conference battle at State Farm Center.

Blackmon Jr. knocked down four of his six shots from 3-point range and Williams not only cleared a team-best nine rebounds, he also converted several key free throws down the stretch in order for the Hoosiers (14-4, 4-1 Big Ten) to extend their win streak to three in a row.

Also scoring in double figures for the visitors was Nick Zeisloft with 10 points off the bench. Kevin Ferrell shot only 1-of-9 from the floor and finished with seven points, but he also accounted for nine assists, against just a single turnover.

Illinois (12-7, 2-4), which has dropped two of the last three contests, was paced by Kendrick Nunn with a game-high 24 points on 6-of-10 shooting beyond the arc. Ahmad Starks contributed 19 points and six assists in a reserve role, hitting 5-of-8 on the perimeter, while Malcolm Hill tacked on 12 points and three steals.

The Illini appeared poised to run away with the meeting as they opened on a 9-0 burst, but it wasn't long before Indiana was ahead by 11 in the period, 34-23, with under five minutes to play before the half. Illinois was able to close the gap to just four points at the break, 38-34, thanks in part to a 6- of-14 showing behind the 3-point line.

Almost midway through the second half Illinois again owned a nine-point advantage, 61-52, but the team went cold and allowed the Hoosiers to fight all the way back and build on a late lead at the free-throw line, thanks to four conversions by Williams in the final minute to seal the win for the visitors.

In a game that featured three ties and seven lead changes, the Illini trailed on the glass, 31-25, and pulled down just four rebounds at the offensive end of the floor.

North Carolina takes Care of Virginia Tech

Chapel Hill, NC (SportsNetwork.com) -- Justin Jackson scored 16 points with a full line and Brice Johnson posted a double-double as No. 15 North Carolina took care of Virginia Tech, 68-53, on Sunday. Johnson tallied 12 points and 11 rebounds and Jackson added seven boards and four assists for North Carolina (14-4, 4-1 ACC), which won comfortably after playing three straight nail biters.

The Tar Heels went 2-1 during a stretch of one-possession finishes. J.P. Tokoto added 10 points and three other Tar Heels chipped in eight apiece. Adam Smith paced the Hokies (8-9, 0-4) with 11 points, and Shane Henry scored 10 with nine rebounds. Virginia Tech was without leading scorer Justin Bibbs, who missed the game with a concussion.

(23) Northern Iowa 60, Missouri State 46

Cedar Falls, IA (SportsNetwork.com) -- Seth Tuttle had 22 points and 10 rebounds as No. 23 Northern Iowa rolled to a 60-46 victory over Missouri State on Sunday. Deon Mitchell had 11 points and Marvin Singleton added 10 points and nine rebounds for the Panthers (16-2, 5-1 MVC), who have won their past five. Austin Ruder scored 13 points and Dorrian Williams added 11 points and five assists for the Bears (8-10, 2-4), who have lost their last four games.

EIU 65, Morehead State 62

MOREHEAD, Ky. -- Eastern Illinois won its ninth straight game coming from behind in the second half on Saturday afternoon at Morehead State for a 65-62 win.  The nine straight wins set the Panthers NCAA Division I record for consecutive wins.

EIU improved to 12-6 overall, 6-0 in the OVC as they swept the OVC East Division this year.  The Panthers host Murray State on Thursday night at 8 p.m. in Lantz Arena.  The game will be nationally televised on CBS Sports.  Morehead State fell to 7-13, 2-3 in the OVC.

Eastern Illinois defense held Morehead State without a field goal until the 13:16 mark of the first half when the Eagles sank a 3-pointer by Corbin Collins.  The Eagles first four field goals of the game came from 3-point range as they led 15-14 following Brent Arrington’s 3-pointer with 6:56 to play.

Cornell Johnston had three 3-pointers in the final 5:42 of the first half as the Panthers outscored MSU 11-2 to close out the half and lead 25-19 at the half.  Josh Piper scored the other two points on a pair of free throws.

Johnston scored 12 points in the first and finished the game with 22 points going 4-of-5 on 3-pointers.

Eastern Kentucky 72, SIUE 68

Eastern Kentucky RICHMOND, Ky. -- Eastern Kentucky used a strong second half to earn a come-from-behind 72-68 win over visiting SIUE in Ohio Valley Conference basketball Saturday night at McBrayer Arena.

SIUE fell to 7-10 overall and 3-3 in the OVC and has lost three of its last four games. Eastern Kentucky improved to 11-6 and 3-1 in the OVC.

The Cougars used a 9-0 run on three consecutive three-pointers to open a seven-point advantage with 12:04 to play before halftime. C.J. Carr hit back-to-back threes before Jake Newton hit the third to make it 18-11 SIUE.

EKU ran off the next 11 points to take a 22-18 lead when Eric Stutz scored a tip-in bucket 7:24 before half.

The teams traded the lead four times before the break and the Cougars held a 33-32 lead at halftime.

The Colonels used a 10-0 run to start the second half to build a lead they would not relinquish. SIUE did not score in the second half until a Kris Davis layup with 15:01 left made it 42-35 EKU.

Sunday, January 18 Scoreboard

NCAA Top-25 Men's Basketball  ("USA Today" Rankings)

#16 North Carolina Tar Heels 68, Virginia Tech Hokies 53

#22 Northern Iowa Panthers 60, Missouri State Bears 46

Monday, January 19 Schedule (All Times Central)

NCAA Top-25 Men's Basketball  ("USA Today" Rankings)

6:00 p.m. - #4 Duke Blue Devils host Pittsburgh Panthers

8:00 p.m. - #5 Villanova Wildcats at Georgetown Hoyas

8:00 p.m. - #10 Kansas Jayhawks host #18 Oklahoma Sooners

6:00 p.m. - #20 Texas Longhorns at TCU Horned Frogs