Nunn Scores 28, Hill Adds 20; Illinois Outlasts Yale, 69-65

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) — Kendrick Nunn scored 18 of his career-high 28 points in the second half and Malcolm Hill finished with 20 Wednesday night to help Illinois beat Yale 69-65.

Makai Mason hit a jumper and made a layup to pull Yale within three with two minutes left but the Bulldogs committed four turnovers and made just 1 of 4 field goals from there

Nunn hit a 3 to make it 66-60 with 1:25 remaining and his two free throws with two seconds to plays sealed it.

Illinois (5-5) took a 33-25 lead into halftime, but the Bulldogs (5-4) stormed back behind a 12-0 run early in the second half to take a 37-35 lead.

Yale's Justin Sears, who finished with 21 points, scored 17 in the second half. Mason had 15 points.

Yale committed 23 turnovers, which Illinois converted into 25 points.

___

TIP-INS:

Illinois: Guard Kendrick Nunn has scored in double-figures in all five games since returning to the lineup Nov. 27 after a preseason thumb injury forced him to miss the team's first five games. Nunn scored a career-high 28 points Wednesday night against Yale, just four days after scoring 27 against Western Carolina on Saturday.

Yale: The Bulldogs outrebounded Illinois 48-25, including 17-7 on the offensive glass but teams each scored 11 second-chance points.

UP NEXT:

Illinois plays Illinois-Chicago on Saturday at the United Center.

Yale visits the Southern California on Sunday.

(© 2015 by STATS LLC and Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and Associated Press is strictly prohibited.)