NCAAB Game Recap - Marshall at Illinois
Sun Nov 19, 2017 5:00 PM EST

Stony
71
MSU
93
F
UNH
63
Fla
70
F
USC
93
Vand
89
F(OT)
WCU
64
Minn
92
F
TxTch
85
NW
49
F
StMar
79
SJSU
61
F
UTSA
90
JMU
77
F
UTEP
72
App
76
F
Quin
72
Lib
84
F
Niag
76
UMass
101
F
Maine
68
SacHr
69
F(OT)
Copp
39
Rut
64
F
IndSt
94
Ohio
96
F(4OT)
Brown
74
StFNY
77
F
Corn
78
UMassL
98
F
Monm
53
UVA
73
F
HolyC
66
URI
88
F
TXAMC
65
UGA
68
F
ConSP
67
FIU
77
F
Seatt
77
Belm
90
F
Brad
70
Web
64
F
Alc
76
CenAR
102
F
NFla
83
Woff
86
F
(N/A)
70
Leh
95
F
(N/A)
42
Yale
107
F
UMBC
88
Colg
93
F
UCIrv
78
AzSt
99
F
UND
70
Nebras
92
F
NE
55
OhSt
80
F
BethC
62
GaTec
65
F
SouthCar
79
W MI
66
F
Hou
78
Wake
73
F
UNCA
82
APSU
79
F(OT)
Samf
67
LoyIL
88
F
MsVl
67
Kent
80
F
BC
82
LaSal
61
F
South
67
NCC
80
F
CSBak
85
Lamar
73
F
SeLA
50
Valpa
83
F
ODU
75
Dayt
67
F
Detr
116
HCU
109
F(OT)
Elon
71
WIMil
72
F
IlSt
84
Tuls
68
F
CoCar
89
Iona
84
F
ColSt
73
FSU
90
F
Marsh
74
Ill
91
F
RobM
66
Duques
59
F
Drex
88
Drake
90
F(2OT)
McNee
86
LoyMa
92
F(OT)
Nich
86
W Ky
100
F
SoFL
53
Ind
70
F
Boston
66
UConn
85
F
Aub
89
Hof
78
F
Bois
64
IaSt
75
F
Tul
63
Ford
55
F
(N/A)
59
Portl
86
F
Vermt
66
NoKY
64
F
USA
54
StPet
49
F
Mercer
70
Colora
79
F
Ball
71
Oreg
95
F
Temp
67
Clem
60
F
Hartfo
68
Mia-O
58
F

Nov 19, 2017, 5:00 PM EST

Final

1

2

T

Marshall

36

38

74

Illinois

46

45

91

Black, Nichols lead Illinois past Marshall 91-74
Sun Nov 19, 2017 8:27 PM

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) Nursing a late-game lead over Marshall that topped 20 points more than once, Illinois coach Brad Underwood took a timeout and unloaded on his team.

Coasting toward its fourth straight win, Underwood thought the Illini had lost their focus -- taking questionable shots and playing soft defense.

"You've got to learn to finish, you've got to learn to make free throws and you've got to learn to go `til the final horn," he said after the game.

"You don't want to know what he said (in the timeout) - it might make you sad," redshirt sophomore forward Kipper Nichols added. "He had a few choice words for us."

Illinois (4-0) did close out the Thundering Herd, 91-74, riding 17 points each from Nichols and Leron Black and 11 rebounds from Nichols, who came off the bench.

The Illini held Marshall (4-2) leading scorer Jon Elmore to 14 points. Elmore entered the game averaging 28.3 a game. He was 2-of-11 shooting on the night, including 0 of 5 in the second half. Elmore also came into the game averaging 7.7 assists but had just three Sunday.

Nichols and Underwood said Illinois focused on the junior guard and it worked, but Marshall coach Dan D'Antoni said Elmore's lack of production had more to do with him than Illinois.

"It was all Jon. He's pressing because he hasn't learned to trust the players he has this year," said D'Antoni, whose team includes nine freshmen and sophomores. "That's a young ball club."

One of those freshmen, Jarrod West, led Marshall with 23 points.

Mark Smith and Michael Finke added 13 each for Illinois.

BIG PICTURE

Marshall: After falling Thursday to Morehead State, the Thundering Herd have lost two straight. Beyond its starting lineup, Marshall had almost no offensive production Sunday. And if Elmore isn't scoring, the Herd don't have an answer on offense.

Illinois: Bench points were again a big key for Illinois. For a second straight game, Nichols scored in double figures off the bench (he had 16 Friday in a win over DePaul) and Trent Frazier added 10. Underwood, though, picked out both Nichols and Frazier during the game for defensive lapses. "Trent, you can't be that soft!" Underwood yelled on one possession midway through the second half. The Illini also started knocking down 3-pointers for the first time this season, making 7 of 15, including 4 of 6 in the second half after entering the game 15 of 65 (23.1 percent).

D'ANTONI HOLDS COURT

During a long, playful postgame monologue, D'Antoni covered a wide range of subjects, from Croatian travel - he likes it - to his wardrobe and rules and officiating changes aimed at reducing contact. He thinks those changes eventually will improve the game.

"It's competition. But it's also entertainment," he said. "To get to see the court flowing and it's not sumo wrestling. It's happened in the NBA game and it'll happen in the college game."

Asked about his customary blazer-and-T-shirt combination, D'Antoni defended his wardrobe preference.

"I'm from the country, man. . You know what? It's comfortable. I don't know who started that tie stuff, anyway."

Underwood, told he had a tough act to follow as he began his news conference, tossed a couple of popcorn kernels in his mouth that D'Antoni had dropped on the podium.

"Can I eat the crumbs he left behind?" Underwood asked.

UP NEXT

Marshall ends its two-game road swing, hosting North Carolina Central on Wednesday (Illinois will host the Eagles on Friday).

Illinois will host Augustana, a Division III school from Rock Island, Illinois, on Wednesday.

Leaders

Marshall PTS +/- AST REB ST BLK
J. West 23 0 2 3 1 0
A. Penava 15 0 3 11 0 2
Illinois PTS +/- AST REB ST BLK
K. Nichols 17 0 1 11 0 0
L. Black 17 0 2 9 1 0

Team Comparison

Marsh Ill
Points For 74 91
Field Goals 24/56-43% 34/77-44%
Three Pointers 10/29-34% 7/15-47%
Free Throws 16/26-62% 16/26-62%
Offensive Rebounds 6 17
Defensive Rebounds 33 28
Rebounds 44 49
Blocks 3 0
Steals 1 8
Turnovers 19 6
Personal Fouls 21 22
Technical Fouls 0 0
Ejections 0 0

2017-18 Reg Season - Ill Leads Series 1-0

Date Result Away Pts Ldr Home Pts Ldr
Sun Nov 19 Marsh 74 @ Ill 91 J. West 23 K. Nichols 17

Game Information

Stadium: State Farm Center, Champaign, Illinois
Attendance: 10,022
Game Time: