Hill Scores 22 As Illinois Holds Off Illinois-Chicago, 83-79
CHICAGO (AP) — Malcolm Hill scored 22 points and Jalen Coleman-Lands added 15 as Illinois beat Illinois-Chicago, 83-79, on Saturday.
Hill hit four straight free throws in the final minute to allow the Illini (6-5) to extend their lead and then hold on for the win.
Michael Finke and Kendrick Dunn each had 14 points in Illinois' balanced scoring attack.
Dikembe Dixson led Illinois-Chicago (1-6) with 20 points to go along with 18 from Dominique Matthews.
Coleman-Lands' 3-point field goal with 4:10 remaining gave Illinois a 66-65 lead after Illinois-Chicago's offense went cold during a stretch when the Flames missed 8 of 10 shots.
Hill, who finished 11 of 14 from the free-throw line, hit a pair of free throws with 3:49 left to snap a 66-66 tie.
The Flames took a 56-54 lead on a short jumper by Dixson as part of a 14-0 scoring run. Illinois, which had led by as many as 12, failed to score for five minutes before Hill split a pair of free throws to end the drought.
Illinois led 41-30 at halftime. The Illini, who trailed by as many as seven in the first half, used an 11-0 run midway through the half to help build the double-digit lead.
TIP-INS
Illinois-Chicago: Matthews, the brother of Kentucky's Charles Matthews, scored the Flames' first 12 points. . Flames starting guard Najeal Young left the game in the first half with an ankle injury.
Illinois: The Illini used the same starting lineup for a second straight game, but have used 10 different groups of starters in 11 games. ... The Illini improved to 14-2 against UIC. . Saturday's game marked the 50th time Illinois has played at Chicago's United Center (36-14).
UP NEXT
Illinois-Chicago hosts Illinois State on Wednesday.
Illinois hosts South Dakota on Dec. 19.
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