Champaign, Ill.-The Presbyterian College men's basketball team was led by Jake Troyli's 15 points and Zach Faircloth's ten points, but the Fighting Illini proved too much as they came out ahead with a 94-48 victory.
Along with Troyli and Faircloth, Khalid Mutakabbir chipped in seven points.
PC opened up the scoring with a jumper by Troyli at the 18:38 mark to take an early 2-0 lead, but Illinois soon answered to tie the score at 2-2. After then trading early baskets, Illinois took the lead at 14:10 off of a three pointer, only to have Kevin Davis respond with bucket to bring the Blue Hose even at 13-13 with 12:25 remaining in the first half.
With the score 13-16 in favor of the Illini, PC went on a five point run to take a two point lead at 9:38, but Illinois answered with a small run of it's own to regain a 21-18 lead. Walt Allen hit a three pointer with 8:10 left in the half to again tie the score, but Illinois took control as they scored 16 points to PC's three over a five minute stretch. Despite a late bucket by Allen, the Illini took a 43-28 lead into the locker room at half time.
The first half featured nine lead changes and three tie scores, with PC shooting 46.2 percent from the field to Illinois' 52.9 percent. While the Illini out rebounded the Blue Hose 21-9, PC recorded six second chance points to Illinois' five.
To start the second half Illinois opened with baskets on three ensuing possessions before Chase Holmes hit a jumper at the 17:08 mark for PC's first points of the half. Illinois then went on a 17-0 run to extend their lead to 68-30 with just under 12 minutes left in the game. Mutakabbir ended the Illini run with a layup at the 11:27 mark to bring the score to 68-32.
Late in the second half Troyli hit three consecutive shots, including one three pointer, to add seven straight points for the Blue Hose to bring the score to 85-41. Mutakhabbir added a jumper and Zach Faircloth hit a three with just over one minute remaining, but Illinois came out on top with the 94-48 win.
The Blue Hose return to action on Tuesday, Nov. 24 when they take on Bradley University in Peoria, Ill.
