Mike Shaw contests a jumper by SIU-E’s Mark Yelovich in the first half of Monday’s game (photo by Rob McColley)
At the Assembly Hall on Monday night, Illinois (2-0) defeated SIU-Edwardsville (0-1), 66-46. Junior guard D.J. Richardson led the Illini with 20 points on 7 of 12 shooting from the floor, including a trio of first-half three-pointers.
“I came in an hour before shootaround, and got a lot of shots up,” Richardson said after the game. He struggled in the Illini’s season opener, tallying only five points, but equaled his career high against SIU-E. “That’s part of maturity,” Illini head coach Bruce Weber said of Richardson’s extra work and improved results. “It was a positive thing.”
Despite 22 turnovers and 41% shooting from the floor, the Illini were able to cruise to the victory. Illinois never trailed in the game, and led by 13 points at the half; the Cougars closed within seven points at 44-37 with 13:30 remaining in the game, but were able to get no closer.
“It was defense by committee tonight,” junior forward Tyler Griffey said. Griffey was the only other Illini in double figures, with 10 points, and he also added a team-high 14 rebounds. “Their bigs were interchangeable, so we were switching a lot.”
Illinois had a significant size advantage on the interior, and were able to translate that into a 48-27 rebounding advantage. Sophomore center Meyers Leonard contributed 11 rebounds, as well as eight points and five blocks. Freshman center Nnanna Egwu added a pair of blocks and three steals in just 14 minutes.
A few random game notes:
- Three airballs by the Illini to start the game, as they tried to work it inside and took some awkward shots
- Great skip pass by Paul finding Richardson open for 3 to give UI 6-0 lead.
- Illini post entry passes pretty much a mess early on.
- I don’t read the message boards, so the Maniscalco-JJ Barea comparisons are probably already worn out, but here’s another one.
- UIUCNet is horseshit. I’m glad I didn’t try to live-blog this game.
- SIU-E 1 of 12 from the floor at 12:33 mark
- Illinois 3 of 11 from the floor with 6 turnovers in first 8-1/2 minutes.
- Possible anagram for SIU-E: SEIU.
- SIU-E just doesn’t travel like they used to. This place is all orange, except for the seats that are empty.
- Richardson with 10 pts (2 treys) at 9:25 mark. Illinois quickly back up by 11 with five-point spurt (18-7).
- SIUE a cool 3 for 20 at 7:20 mark (15%), after which they hit mid-range jumpers on consecutive possessions.
- Shaw able to start back-to-basket, back his man down, and get to the rim (notable because this is the first time this happened so far tonight by any Illini post player). Then missed both free throws.
- Illinois has a huge height advantage, but not able to make anything happen around the basket.
- Illinois press was ineffective for most of the game, but became more disruptive as SIU-E tired.
- Horribly executed set play on final possession of first half turns golden when Maniscalco fumbles, finds Egwu alone under the basket for a bucket at buzzer. 36-23.
- Both teams with 11 FG’s at 18:00 mark of second half.
- Paul aggressively challenged two shots in first 2:30 of second half, picking up 2nd and 3rd fouls.
- 46-37 with 12:08 to go. Rough play, but teams are trading baskets and SIUE not making up any ground.
- Shaw appears to be ok after collision with 11:38 remaining.
- Alley-oop from Richardson to Leonard with 11 min remaining. That had been the first time Leonard got to the rim, but then he was fouled going up the next possession.
- Maniscalco trey puts Illini up 53-37 with 9:28 to go (biggest lead).
- Consecutive dunks by Richardson and Egwu put Illinois up 59-40 with 6:26 to play.
- Egwu played an excellent defensive game.
- Jones for SIU-E had a nice stretch, bricking a dunk and airballing a three.
- Paul dunked, was fouled, and completed 3-point play for final margin.
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