Illini Beat Boise In Second Round Of NIT

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Published on March 21 2017 11:07 am
Last Updated on March 21 2017 11:07 am

By Associated Press

Tracy Abrams scored 18 points, Leron Black had a double-double and Illinois pulled away midway through the second half to beat Boise State 71-56 on Monday night in the second round of the NIT.

No. 2 seed Illinois (20-14) will play fourth-seeded Central Florida (23-11) in a quarterfinal. The game was tied at 49 with 10 minutes left before Illinois closed on a 22-7 run.

Malcolm Hill scored 13 points and has 1,817 for his career, surpassing Dee Brown (1,812) for third place all-time at Illinois. Abrams was 6 of 11 from the floor and made three 3-pointers. Black had 12 points and 10 rebounds.

Chandler Hutchison scored 17 points and grabbed eight rebounds to lead No. 6 seed Boise State (20-12). Nick Duncan chipped in 12 points. The Broncos shot 0 of 14 from long range in the second half.

Brad Underwood, who became the 18th coach in program history for the Illini, was in attendance. He replaced John Groce after five seasons.

ILLINOIS POSTGAME NOTES

Team Notes

Illinois is 20-14 overall and reached 20 wins for the first time since 2013-14.

Illinois improved to 10-6 all-time in the NIT.

Illinois is 2-0 all-time against Boise State.

Interim coach Jamall Walker earned his second career head coaching victory.

Illinois had 10 steals, the program's most in an NIT game. The previous high was nine at Clemson in 2014.

The Illini held Boise State without a three-point basket for the entire second half (0-14).  

Individual Notes

Senior Malcolm Hill moved into third all-time on the Illinois all-time scoring list with 1,1817 career points. Hill passed Dee Brown (1,812) for third all-time.

Hill is in a tie for eighth place with Nnanna Egwu for 136 games played in the Orange and Blue.

Tracy Abrams moved into 33rd on the Illinois all-time scoring list with 18 points tonight. Abrams passed Nick Anderson (1,167) and Roger Powell, Jr. (1,178) on the scoring list with 1,185 career points.

Abrams sits in a tie with James Augustine and Dee Brown for sixth all-time in Illinois history with 137 games played.

Abrams is tied with Demetri McCamey in eighth place in Illinois history with 115 career starts.
   
 Redshirt-sophomore Leron Black recorded his second consecutive double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds. Black has three double-doubles this season.