CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) -Â Senior Maverick Morgan looked in mid-season form in Illinois' season opener on Friday night. The senior from Springboro, Ohio, finished a perfect 8-for-8 from the floor and 16 points as the Fighting Illini rolled Southeast Missouri State, 81-62.
Malcolm Hill overcame a slow start to score 21 points and pick up eight rebounds.
Michael Finke scored 12 and pulled down seven rebounds, while sixth-year guard Tracy Abrams scored 13 in his return after two-straight seasons out with injuries.
Southeast Missouri opened hot, riding Antonius Cleveland's eight early points for a 25-18 lead and keeping a sparse opening-night crowd quiet.
But the Illini (1-0) turned their defense up and started finding the basket, going on a 12-0 run to turn that seven-point deficit into a 30-25 lead on a 3-pointer from the left corner from guard Tracy Abrams. The Illini finished 19-for-22 (86%) on two-point field goals.
Illinois hosts Northern Kentucky on Sunday at 5 pm.
POSTGAME NOTES
1. Illinois opened its 112th season of men's basketball on Friday night at the State Farm Center, improving to 98-14 all-time in season openers. The Illini are 4-1 in season openers under head coach John Groce.
2. Friday's win was No. 40 at home for Illinois under Groce, and its 585th win at the State Farm Center all-time.
3. Illinois improves to 3-0 all-time against Southeast Missouri with Friday evening's 81-62 victory over the RedHawks.
4. Senior Tracy Abrams saw his first action for the Illini since the 2013-14 season after missing the last two seasons due to injury. He finished with 13 points on 4-of-5 FG and 3-of-4 3 FG, two rebounds, three assists and a steal.
5. Abrams surpassed 900 career points, finishing the night with 13 total points to move his career total to 903
6. Senior Maverick Morgan went 6-for-6 in the first half totaling 12 points and grabbing two rebounds. He stayed hot all night, going 8-for-8 overall to record 16 points. He also grabbed three rebounds and recorded two blocks.
7. Illinois used a 12-0 run to take the lead with 4:48 to play in the first half, turning a 25-18 deficit into a 30-25 lead. The Illini would not trail from that point on
8. Illinois took a 37-31 lead into halftime on Friday, improving to 53-15 under head coach John Groce when leading after one half.
9. The Illini out-rebounded SEMO 20-10 in the first half, limiting the RedHawks to two offensive boards, and ended the game with a 37-22 edge on the boards.
10. Illinois made better than 86-percent of its 2-point field goals, going 19-for-22 inside the arc. The Illini shot 56.6-percent from the field (30-53) on the night, including 11 three-pointers.
11. Four Illini finished in double-figures, led by senior Malcolm Hill who posted 21 points, eight rebounds and four assists to open the season. Hill was 6-for-11 from the floor, but hit 7-of-7 from the charity stripe.
12. Freshman guard Te'Jon Lucas and redshirt junior guard Clayton Jones made their first career appearances for Illinois.
