Shannon scores 30 as No. 19 Illinois routs Monmouth 103-65

Posted November 14, 2022 12:00 am

By GAVIN GOOD Associated Press

Illinois' Terrence Shannon Jr. reaches for the ball during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Monmouth, Monday, Nov. 14, 2022, in Champaign, Ill. (AP Photo/Michael Allio) Associated Press

CHAMPAIGN - Terrence Shannon Jr. had a career-high 30 points and 8 rebounds to lead No. 19 Illinois to a 103-65 win over Monmouth on Monday night.

Freshman guard Jayden Epps scored a season-high 21 points and Dain Dainja finished with 15 points on 7-for-9 shooting for the Illini (3-0).

Andrew Ball scored 13 points to lead Monmouth (0-3), and Jack Collins added 12.

Illinois made its first 5 shots - four of them 3s - and hit 9 of its first 12 shots to sprint out to a 24-9 lead. It was a sharp contrast from a 1-for-18 start from the field in a win over Kansas City last Friday.

Illinois led 8-0 just 44 seconds in thanks to a 3 by Shannon, a steal and layup from RJ Melendez and a 3 from Skyy Clark. Clark pushed the Illini lead to double digits with a decisive crossover in transition and a layup, part of a 31-5 run that included four buckets from Shannon and four from Dainja.

Illinois led 63-33 at halftime after shooting 76.7% in the first half.

The Illini sharpshooters cooled off a bit in the second half, finishing the game at 59.7%. It hardly mattered in part due to converting 24 Hawks turnovers into 30 points.

For Illinois, limiting turnovers will be key in challenging games in Las Vegas against No. 8 UCLA and either No. 5 Baylor or No. 16 Virginia. The Hawks looked helpless Monday before crawling into the game by scoring 7 points off 4 turnovers.

Illinois' Terrence Shannon Jr. (0) is fouled by Monmouth's Myles Ruth, left, as Jack Holmstrom, right, defends during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Monday, Nov. 14, 2022, in Champaign, Ill. Associated Press

Illinois' Terrence Shannon Jr., second from left, works the ball inside against Monmouth's Klemen Vuga (35) and Jack Holmstrom during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Monday, Nov. 14, 2022, in Champaign, Ill. Associated Press

Monmouth coach King Rice looks on during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Illinois, Monday, Nov. 14, 2022, in Champaign, Ill. Associated Press

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