Illini improve to 5-0

Posted November 27, 2014 12:01 am

Associated Press

LAS VEGAS - Rayvonte Rice scored 21 points and pulled down seven rebounds to lead Illinois past Indiana State 88-62 on Thursday in the third round of the Las Vegas Invitational.

Malcolm Hill scored 17 points with eight rebounds, while going 11 of 12 at the free-throw line for the Illini (5-0). Nnanna Egwu, Aaron Cosby and Kendrick Nunn each had 10 points for Illinois, which is 3-0 in the Invitational.

The Illini, who never trailed, hit 8 of 9 of their first shots and jumped to a 30-8 advantage.

Grant Prusator led Indiana State (3-2) off the bench with 17 points. Before Thursday, he only played two games this season with one field goal. Brenton Scott added 10 points for the Sycamores, who are 2-1 in the tourney.

Indiana State got no closer than 19 points the rest of the first half and trailed 40-21 at intermission. By halftime, Illinois' field-goal percentage fell to 38 percent, but the Illini still made 6 of 13 from 3-point range. Indiana State finished the half at 25 percent from the field.

The Illinois lead grew to as many as 30 with 13:04 left in the game. The Sycamores cut it to 17 twice with just under 5 minutes left, but came no closer.

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