A fast start and red-hot shooting carried No. 20 Illinois to an 88-63 victory over Northwestern Thursday at Champaign, Ill.

Demetri McCamey scored 14 points to lead six players in double figures for the Fighting Illini (13-3, 3-0 Big Ten), who won for the 10th time in 12 games. Illinois shot a blistering 70.5 percent from the field (31 of 44), hitting 9 of 14 shots from 3-point range.

Illinois hit six of its first seven shots, building a 16-8 lead on Mike Davis’ layup with 15:54 left in the first half. Leading16-10, the Fighting Illini scored the next 13 points, running out to a 29-10 lead on Jereme Richmond’s free throw with 11:42 to go in the half.

The Wildcats (9-4, 0-3) scored seven straight points to pull within 29-17, but Illinois closed the first half with an 18-7 run to take a 47-24 lead into the locker room. The Fighting Illini opened the second half with a 9-2 run, pushing the lead to 56-26 on Mike Tisdale’s basket with 16:55 left.