Illini Come From Behind to Stay Undefeated

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Published on November 30 2013 11:37 am
Last Updated on November 30 2013 11:37 am
Written by Greg Sapp

 
Champaign,  IL (SportsNetwork.com)  - Rayvonte  Rice led  all scorers  with 17 
points as the Illinois Fighting Illini came back to defeat the IUPU-Fort Wayne 
Mastodons, 57-55, in a non-conference showdown at the State Farm Center. 
 
Tracy  Abrams added 15 points and four steals for Illinois (7-0), while Joseph 
Bertrand chipped in 11 points. 
 
For  IPFW  (6-3), both  Luis Jacobo (15  points) and Mo  Evans (11 points) had 
strong  showings off the bench. Pierre Bland and Steve Forbes netted 12 and 11 
points, respectively. 
 
After  IPFW outshot Illinois from the field in the first half, 53.6 percent to 
40 percent, it went into the halftime locker room sporting a 35-27 lead. 
 
Behind  a  10-0 run early in  the second stanza,  the Illini took a 41-40 lead 
with 13:31 left on a Rice layup. The teams went on the seesaw down the stretch 
before an Abrams jumper with 2:02 remaining gave Illinois the lead for good. 
 
Illinois  had  a poor night  shooting from the foul  line at 13-of-23, but its 
effort was much better than IPFW's dreadful performance (2-of-13).