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CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) — Trent Frazier scored 25 points on Saturday to lead Illinois past East Tennessee State 73-55.
Giorgi Bezhanishvili scored 15 points and Kipper Nichols added 14 for Illinois (4-7). Aaron Jordan had a game-high 10 rebounds.
ETSU (8-4) was led by Daivien Williamson's 19 points. Patrick Good scored 11 points and Jeromy Rodriguez grabbed 7 rebounds for the Buccaneers.
The Illini dominated the first half, going on a 14-0 run at one point and leading 43-18 at the break. Frazier hit five 3-pointers in the half to lead the charge.
"I liked today," Illinois coach Brad Underwood said. "We played well from top to bottom, at both ends of the court."
Illinois shot 43 percent (26 of 60) from the field while ETSU shot 35 percent (18 of 52). The Illini hit 10 of 25 3-pointers, the Bucs 6 of 22.
"I give all the credit to Illinois," ETSU coach Steve Forbes said. "They took us out of our offense early and we struggled to deal with it the whole game. They deny an offense like no other team."
The Bucs adjusted to the Illini's swarming man-to-man defense in the second half and slowly started to crawl back into the game, outscoring Illinois 37-30. But 3-pointers by Da'Monte Williams. Frazier and Jordan kept Illinois' lead intact.
"That first half was the best we've played all year," Underwood said.
"Their record is not indicative of who they are as a team," Forbes said. "They've played a tough schedule, no puffy games at all."
BIG PICTURE
ETSU: The Buccaneers were searching for their first win against a Big Ten opponent after having dropped 17 games. Saturday's loss marked ETSU's first game against the Big Ten since hosting Michigan State in December 1998.
Illinois: Starting guard Ayo Dosunmu and backup guard Alan Griffin dressed but didn't play because they were late to the morning shoot-around, team officials said.
TRAVEL WOES
The Bucs had travel problems. After being forced to fly to Chicago's Midway Airport Friday night because central Illinois was socked in with heavy fog, their bags didn't make the trip and the bus broke down on its way to Champaign.
"It was a little bizarre," Forbes said. "We got in to Chicago about 9:30 or 10 last night. No bags. Got on the bus, the bus broke down. Had to get a new bus."
The team didn't get to their hotel until after 3 a.m. The luggage didn't arrive until less than two hours before the start of the game, causing the coaching staff to resort to wearing sweatpants and warm-up jackets instead of the usual suit and tie.
"We're going to bus home," Forbes said. "I'm not getting back on that plane again."
HIGHLIGHT REEL
Kipper Nichols hit a reverse layup for Illinois with three defenders all but hanging on him early in the game, which brought the crowd to its feet and kicked off the 14-0 Illini scoring run.
UP NEXT
ETSU: Plays Wyoming in the Sun Bowl Classic on Friday.
Illinois: Travels to Missouri on Saturday.
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