Brendan Ross
FightingIllini.com
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The No. 8 Fighting Illini took down North Carolina A&T by a score of 122-60 led by preseason All-American Ayo Dosunmu and potential B1G Freshman of the Year Adam Miller.
In his first game as an Illini, Miller showed why he was the 3rd ranked player in the state of Illinois last year, finishing the game with 28 points and setting the Illinois freshman debut record. This included 19 first-half points on 5-6 shooting from beyond the arc. He got it started early, draining a corner three to get the Illini on the board.
Dosunmu finished with a career high in scoring and his second career double-double totaling 28 points, 10 rebounds, and 5 assists for the Illini.
North Carolina A&T was led by Blake Harris' 12 points and Fred Cleveland's 9 points and 4 rebounds. The Aggies struggled offensively, shooting only 26.3% from the field.
Illinois pulled away early and dominated in every offensive stat category in the first half, capped off by a 24-0 scoring run. During that time the Aggies were unable to convert, shooting 0-16 during the 10+ minute period.
The Illini took a 58-19 lead into the locker room, backed by 11 made three-point shots on 17 attempts (64.7%) and complete domination on the glass, out-rebounding the Aggies 35-8 in the first half.
The second half was more of the same, as the Illini extended their lead thanks to another large run of 16-0. The Aggies had their moments, including a 11-0 run with 4 forced turnovers halfway through the second period, but the Illini's offense was too much to handle down the stretch. Illinois scored 64 second half points on 64.1% shooting, while gathering 27 more rebounds.
THE NEWCOMERS
In addition to Miller's strong start, fellow freshmen Andre Curbelo and Coleman Hawkins as well as Holy Cross transfer Jacob Grandison played significant minutes and had an immediate impact for the Illini.
Curbelo put up 8 points and 6 assists, while also taking a key charge early in the first half to set the defensive tone.
Grandison scored 10 points along with grabbing 8 rebounds in his debut after sitting out the 2019-2020 season due to NCAA transfer rules.
Hawkins contributed 5 points and 4 rebounds in 13 minutes of play.
BEYOND THE ARC AND CRASHING THE GLASS
The Illini showcased their shooting ability as they set a program record with 17 made three-point field goals. Miller finished with six, Dosunmu with five, and Trent Frazier, Da'Monte Williams and Grandison each added two.
Illinois dominated the glass, outrebounding the Aggies 62-18 including 20 offensive boards. Kofi Cockburn led the charge with 10 rebounds to go along with his 18 points. Dosunmu also contributed 10 rebounds, while Grandison had 8 of his own.
ADAM MILLER
Miller debuted with 28 points, 3 rebounds, and 3 assists in 27 minutes. He was extremely efficient, shooting 10-12 from the field and 6-8 from beyond the arc.
Coach Brad Underwood had this to say about the 4-star freshman's debut: "He was the best scorer in this class. He can just get buckets in a variety of ways. Today it was easy because he ran the floor and took good shots. It won't always be that easy, but he has an ability to make hard shots. It a tribute to all our guys, that unselfishness is what our program is about."
UP NEXT
The Illini take on Chicago State tomorrow (Thursday, November 24th) in their second game of the Thanksgiving multi-team event in Champaign. The game will tip-off at 11:00 AM.
TEAM NOTES
- Illinois opened its 116th season of men's basketball on Wednesday. After today's victory, the Fighting Illini have all-time record of 102-14 (.879) in season openers.
- It had been 262 days since the Illini took the court in what would be its final game of the 2019-20 season, a 78-76 win over Iowa at State Farm Center on March 8.
- The Illini are now 37-2 all-time (.949) when starting the season at State Farm Center, which includes an active streak of 24-straight wins when opening the year at SFC.
- Illinois opened the season with a 122-60 win over North Carolina A&T, using a 27-0 run over eight minutes in the first half to take control and never look back as UI reached the 100-point mark for the seventh time since 2010-11. The Illini last reached the century mark in a 117-65 win over Lindenwood on Nov. 26, 2019 in State Farm Center.
- Illinois' 122 points is the most points by a Big Ten team since Penn State set the conference record of 129 points against VMI on Dec. 30, 2006.
- Illinois connected on 17 three-pointers against the NC A&T, breaking the school record for threes in a single game. The previous record was 16 three in a game, set on three occasions.
- Illinois' 17 three-pointers made is tied for the 11th-most in a game by a Big Ten team in conference history. It is the most since Purdue tied the conference record of 20 vs. Iowa on Jan. 20, 2018.
- Illinois outrebounded the Aggies, 62 to 18, marking only the third time since the 1979-80 season that UI has registered 60 or more boards in a single game.
INDIVIDUAL NOTES
- Illinois started an experience group in its season debut with junior Ayo Dosunmu, senior Trent Frazier, senior Da'Monte Williams and sophomore Kofi Cockburn as well as freshman Adam Miller. Outside of Miller, the four other players have combined to start 217 games in their Illini careers.
- True-freshman Adam Miller started the game, marking four-straight seasons in which a true freshman has started the Illini's season opener.
- The Illini had four players in double figures: Ayo Dosunmu (28), Adam Miller (28), Kofi Cockburn (18) and redshirt-junior Jacob Grandison (10).
- Ayo Dosunmu posted his second-career double-double and first with rebounds, while setting a career high in scoring with 28 points on 11-of-18 shooting, including a 5-of-8 mark from three, while also handing out five assists.
- Adam Miller set the Illini's freshman debut scoring record with 28 points on 10-of-12 shooting, including a 6-of-8 mark from beyond the arc. Miller broke the previous record set by Brandon Paul, who had 22 points in his Illini rookie debut vs. SIU-Edwardsville on Nov. 13, 2009.
- Kofi Cockburn registered his 13th career double-double with 18 points and 10 rebounds.
- Da'Monte Williams led the Illini and set a career-high with seven assists.
- Seven players made their Fighting Illini debuts – Jacob Grandison, as well as all six freshmen with Adam Miller starting and Andre Curbelo, Coleman Hawkins, Brandon Lieb, Connor Serven and Edgar Padilla seeing action.
- Head coach Brad Underwood is 1-0 when coaching in face shield.
