Spokesman-Review
National Basketball Association
BOXSCORE | RECAP
Illinois 91, South Dakota 79
When: 3:00 PM ET, Saturday, December 19, 2015
Where: State Farm Center, Champaign, Illinois
Officials: # Chris Beaver, # Rob Kueneman, # Glenn Mayborg
Attendance: 11714

Junior guard Malcolm Hill poured in a career-high 34 points and tied a career high with 11 rebounds to pace Illinois to a 91-79 nonconference victory over South Dakota on Saturday at State Farm Center.

Freshman guard Jalen Coleman-Lands dropped in 17 points to help Illinois win its fourth in a row. The Illini (7-5) drilled a season-high 14 3-pointers -- four apiece by Hill and Coleman-Lands -- on a season-high 30 attempts. Hill added five assists, three blocks and two steals to round out the finest day of his career.

Senior swingman Tre Burnette scored 27 points for the Coyotes (7-5), who were hoping to add Illinois to their list of Big Ten conquests this month. They won in double overtime at Minnesota on Dec. 5. Senior shooting guard Casey Kasperbauer added 12 points Saturday.

Illinois led 58-38 early in the second half, but South Dakota inched its way into striking range. Senior guard Trey Norris’ jumper with 4:20 to go pulled the Coyotes within 81-75, but South Dakota missed four shots that would have pulled it closer.

Hill guided the Illini to safety by burying a 3-pointer with 2:23 to play. South Dakota managed just four points in the final 4:20.

Redshirt freshman forward Michael Finke chipped in 13 points and seven rebounds for Illinois, while junior guard Kendrick Nunn contributed 10 points, six rebounds and four assists.
Top Game Performances
 
South Dakota   Illinois
Tre Burnette 27 Scoring Malcolm Hill 34
Trey Norris 5 Assists Khalid Lewis 6
Tre Burnette 6 Rebounds Malcolm Hill 11
Tre Burnette 2 Free Throws Made Malcolm Hill 10
D.J. Davis 2 Steals Malcolm Hill 2
N/A Blocks Malcolm Hill 3
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Points FG% 3PM-3PA FTM-FTA Assists Rebounds Blocks Steals Turnovers
South Dakota 79 47.7 11-27 6-13 19 30 0 6 10
Illinois 91 48.4 14-30 17-20 23 33 4 4 8