NCAAB Game Recap - Illinois at Grand Canyon
Fri Nov 8, 2019 9:00 PM EST

E KY
49
KY
91
F
UNCG
62
Kansas
74
F
ColSt
55
Duke
89
F
UNC
78
UNCW
62
F
IL-C
46
Mem
92
F
Baylor
64
Wash
67
F
Web
34
UtSt
89
F
Sien
63
Xav
81
F
BGSU
79
LSU
88
F
David
66
Aub
76
F
N TX
56
VCU
59
F
(N/A)
51
E MI
93
F
(N/A)
76
Mercer
84
F
Oakl
53
Del
56
F
(N/A)
62
USC-Up
103
F
USMMA
43
Army
80
F
(N/A)
64
SCSt
79
F
(N/A)
53
Norf
93
F
(N/A)
54
Elon
95
F
Dart
68
Buff
63
F
Akr
84
WVU
94
F
(N/A)
65
JU
83
F
ArkSt
43
Miss
71
F
(N/A)
37
Yale
94
F
Maris
58
VMI
56
F
Copp
42
VaTec
74
F
(N/A)
31
Tows
100
F
Vermt
61
StBon
59
F
StFPA
98
Rich
100
F(OT)
ChaSo
49
NCAT
63
F
FAU
60
Mia-FL
74
F
UMassL
87
LIU
74
F
Longw
65
GMas
76
F
LoyIL
63
Furm
87
F
Niag
64
Drex
72
F
Rider
81
DelSt
54
F
SacHr
67
UConn
89
F
W&M
79
Amer
70
F
(N/A)
47
Campbl
101
F
UTSA
60
SIU
72
F
(N/A)
66
CoCar
102
F
Radf
60
Lib
66
F
FaDi
59
DeP
70
F
E IL
52
Wisc
65
F
(N/A)
71
NW
61
F
NoKY
56
Mizzu
71
F
SHSU
58
MissSt
67
F
(N/A)
61
Lamar
106
F
Harv
79
NE
84
F
Reinh
55
GaSo
109
F
Eccle
52
Gram
147
F
HCU
81
ORU
95
F
(N/A)
59
FIU
101
F
ECU
57
Navy
62
F
MsVl
49
Utah
143
F
Ill
83
GrCan
71
F
SIU-E
60
Iowa
87
F
SDak
72
Pacif
62
F
CalLu
56
CBU
112
F
CAPoly
63
SCla
77
F
(N/A)
27
Sac
76
F
InWor
61
N CO
83
F
AzSt
71
Colora
81
F
Portl
65
USC
76
F
FlaAM
52
HI
65
F

Nov 8, 2019, 9:00 PM EST

Final

1

2

T

Illinois

41

42

83

Grand Canyon

37

34

71

Cockburn leads way as Illinois holds off Grand Canyon 83-71
Sat Nov 9, 2019 12:27 AM

PHOENIX (AP) Illinois started its two-game desert road trip in one of the rowdiest environments in college basketball.

Grand Canyon's purple-clad "Havocs" spent the game bouncing, clapping and screaming, making it hard for the Illini to even hear each other during timeouts.

Illinois survived the road havoc and now faces another, potentially tougher one at Arizona's McKale Center.

Kofi Cockburn had 23 points and 14 rebounds, Andres Feliz added 21 points and Illinois pulled away late to beat Grand Canyon 83-61 Friday night.

"The homecourt atmosphere was everything it was rumored to be," Illinois coach Brad Underwood said. "I told our players one of the advantages of a homecourt advantage is not only getting the home team ready, but they're so disruptive in terms of communication."

Illinois (2-0) worked the ball inside to Cockburn early and that opened up the rest of the floor. The Illini led by four at halftime and stretched it to 14 with a big run to start the second half.

Riding the energy from one of college basketball's best home crowds, Grand Canyon (0-2) kept it close in the first half and made a late run to cut the Illini's lead to four.

Illinois kept the Antelopes at arm's length from there to open a two-game trip to the desert with a win before facing No. 21 Arizona on Sunday

Grand Canyon spread the floor to make a late run and made 8 of 19 from 3-point range.

The Antelopes were no match for the Illini inside, outrebounded 52-26 while giving up 15 second-chance points on 20 offensive rebounds. Illinois also had a 44-32 advantage in the paint.

Isiah Brown led Grand Canyon with 18 points and Jovan Blacksher Jr. added 14.

"Disappointed, but really proud of my guys," Grand Canyon coach Dan Majerle said. "They played with a lot of passion and heart, they played hard. It was a big step up in what we played the first game."

With 85% of their scoring back and a frenetic, turnover-producing defense, the Illini ratcheted up expectations entering their third season under Underwood.

Illinois instead got it off to an inauspicious start, needing overtime to beat Nicholls at home in its opener.

Grand Canyon got its seventh season under Majerle off to a shaky start, losing by 11 at home to Division II Davenport.

The Antelopes have their smallest team under Majerle, so it was no surprise they had trouble stopping Cockburn inside. The 7-foot Jamaican freshman powered his way past GCU defenders throughout the first half, scoring 14 points on 5-of-8 shooting and grabbing seven rebounds by halftime

"He's an imposing figure," Underwood said. "We've got to take advantage of that and I thought tonight we did."

When the Antelopes started closing in on Cockburn, Feliz took over, scoring 12 first-half points.

Grand Canyon kept pace from the 3-point arc, where it struggled in the opener. The Lopes made 5 of 9 in the first half - they were 2 for 19 against Davenport - to stay within 41-37 at halftime.

"I thought what did we needed to do early," Underwood said. "We got a little bit sloppy at the end of the first half when we really had a chance to really take the next step."

Illinois hit its first six shots to open the second half on a 15-4 run, pushing the lead to 56-41.

The Antelopes kept Illinois from running away with it, hanging around before trimming the lead to 71-67 with four minutes left.

Grand Canyon couldn't get any closer and had to play without Alessandro Lever after the center fouled out.

"Our guys expected to win this game, so there's a lot of disappointment in that locker room," Majerle said.

BIG PICTURE

Illinois played better than its opener and a solid tuneup for the more difficult game of the road trip, at No. 21 Arizona on Saturday.

Grand Canyon had its hands full with Illinois' size, but put up a better fight than it did in the opener.

FREE THROW WOES

Grand Canyon was good from the free throw line its opening loss, making 15 of 19. The Antelopes were not so good against Illinois, going 9 for 16.

"That's something we can control and we have to be better," Majerle said.

UP NEXT

Illinois plays at No. 21 Arizona on Sunday.

Grand Canyon hosts San Diego State on Wednesday.

---

More AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/Collegebasketball and http://www.twitter.com/AP-Top25

Leaders

Illinois PTS +/- AST REB ST BLK
K. Cockburn 23 0 0 14 1 0
A. Feliz 21 0 4 6 2 0
Grand Canyon PTS +/- AST REB ST BLK
I. Brown 18 0 2 6 0 0
J. Blacksher 14 0 3 3 1 0

Team Comparison

Ill GrCan
Points For 83 71
Field Goals 29/64-45% 27/61-44%
Three Pointers 4/13-31% 8/19-42%
Free Throws 21/30-70% 9/16-56%
Offensive Rebounds 20 6
Defensive Rebounds 32 20
Rebounds 58 29
Blocks 0 0
Steals 5 4
Turnovers 17 11
Personal Fouls 21 23
Technical Fouls 0 0
Ejections 0 0

2019-20 Reg Season - Ill Leads Series 1-0

Date Result Away Pts Ldr Home Pts Ldr
Fri Nov 8 Ill 83 @ GrCan 71 K. Cockburn 23 I. Brown 18

Game Information

Stadium: Grand Canyon University Arena, Phoenix, Arizona
Attendance: 7,498
Game Time: