URBANA-CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (11/18/2016) -- Junior
Jaleel Hogan and sophomore
Josh McFolley each scored 16 points apiece, but a second-half offensive attack by the Fighting Illini was too much to overcome as the University of Detroit Mercy men's basketball team fell, 89-69, at Illinois on Friday night.
The game was the start of the NIT Season Tip-Off for Detroit Mercy, who will play four games in eight days as part of the event.Â
Hogan netted all 16 of his points in the second half as he finished the game 5-of-9 from the field and 6-of-8 from the free throw line. He also had two blocks and a steal.
Senior
Chris Jenkins just missed his fifth career double-double ending with 13 points, a game-high nine rebounds, and a team-high three assists, while McFolley added a career-best five rebounds.
Illinois (4-0) took an early lead from the start and opened a 15-point advantage, 28-13, with just over eight minutes left in the first half. Detroit Mercy (1-2) started chipping away and after Allen netted five-straight points for the team, a free throw by Jenkins cut the deficit to 10, 29-19, with 5:07 remaining.
Later on, a triple by sophomore
Aaron Foster-Smith and a layup from McFolley pulled the team within seven, 31-24, with 3:07 left in the opening half. The Titans were also within seven two more times and went into the break down by nine, 39-30.
The Fighting Illini went on a 10-4 run in the first two minutes of the second half to reclaim a double-digit lead. Illinois then went on an 11-0 spurt to push its advantage to 22, 60-38, with 13:14 left in the contest.
The Titans shot 42.9 percent from the field overall, including 52.0 percent in the second half. Detroit Mercy also forced 15 turnovers.
Allen tallied nine points in the game. Foster-Smith and sophomore
Gerald Blackshear Jr. each pulled down three boards and freshman
Ed Carter III handed out a pair of helpers. Â
The Titans will continue their NIT Season Tip-Off road swing when the red, white and blue visit Florida State on Sunday, where game time is set for 5 p.m.Â
Game Notes:
Illinois now leads the all-time series, 9-1… The last time these two teams met was in another first year of a Titan head coach in coach McCallum back in 2008… The Titans last win against a Big Ten team was over Michigan State in 1997-98 campaign, a game that featured head coach
Bacari Alexander '99 and assistant coach
Jermaine Jackson '99… McFolley's previous career high in rebounds was four achieved three times… McFolley has 11 treys in the first three games… Hogan was just one free throw shy of his career-best 7-of-10 effort at Northern Kentucky last season…Â
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