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Updated: November 10, 2023 @ 11:47 am
Illinois freshman guard Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn dribbles around Eastern Illinois junior Kyndall Davis in the first half of Monday’s game at the State Farm Center. Gibbs-Lawhorn had a game-high 18 points as the 25th-rated Fighting Illini defeated the Panthers 80-52.
Illinois senior forward Terrence Shannon takes a 3-pointer during the first half of Monday’s game against Eastern Illinois University at the State Farm Center. Shannon finished with 16 points as the Illini defeated the Panthers 80-52.

Illinois freshman guard Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn dribbles around Eastern Illinois junior Kyndall Davis in the first half of Monday’s game at the State Farm Center. Gibbs-Lawhorn had a game-high 18 points as the 25th-rated Fighting Illini defeated the Panthers 80-52.
Illinois senior forward Terrence Shannon takes a 3-pointer during the first half of Monday’s game against Eastern Illinois University at the State Farm Center. Shannon finished with 16 points as the Illini defeated the Panthers 80-52.
CHAMPAIGN — Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn scored 18 points and Terrence Shannon Jr. added 16 as No. 25 Illinois pulled away in the second half to beat Eastern Illinois 80-52 on Monday night in an opener.
Twelve players scored for the Illini as they used their depth to turn away the Panthers in the non-conference game.
Gibbs-Lawhorn, a 6-foot-1 freshman guard on a team of mostly upperclassmen, ,made 7 of 10 shots, including a one-hand dunk in the first half that excited the crowd.
“I wasn’t nervous,” Gibbs-Lawson said. “I’ve played against high-level players.”
Kooper Jacobi scored 10 points and had 11 rebounds for Eastern Illinois.
Ahead 37-25 at halftime, the Illini put away the Panthers with a 21-6 flurry to start the second half
Eastern Illinois took a 15-6 lead before the Illini rallied. It took a 10-point run in the final 3:03 of the first half to give Illinois its 12-point halftime lead. The Illini led at the break despite making only 4 of 17 3-point shots and shooting 3 for 10 on free throws.
They finished just 10 for 32 on 3s.
“We were flat. Unemotional. And we had no attention to detail,” Illinois coach Brad Underwood said. “But we found a way to win.”
Illinois was 12 for 23 at the free-throw line.
“We came out flat and that’s on me,” Shannon said. “I have to do a better job of being a leader.”
Eastern Michigan coach Marty Simmons was happy with his team’s effort.
“We competed very well at the start. We just weren’t able to respond late in the first half when Illinois picked up the pressure,” he said. “I don’t think any of our guys had stage freight.”
After beating No. 1 Kansas in an exhibition, the Illini were ragged early. After going 9-22 last season, Eastern Illinois stood its ground against the Illini for the most of the first half, providing hope for a turnaround season.
Illinois is 40-2 in openers at the State Farm Center with a winning streak of 27 dating to Dec. 1, 1993.
Eastern Illinois Athletic Director Tom Michael was a four-year basketball letter-winner for Illinois from 1991-94. One of the best shooters in program history, he still holds Illini records for season (.493) and career (.449) three-point shooting.
Eastern Illinois fifth-year senior Jermaine Hamlin began his college basketball career at Illinois, playing in the 2019-20 and 2020-21 seasons. During that time, the 6-foot-10 forward’s primary role was to go up against All-American Kofi Cockburn during practices.
“He’s the only person I’ve seen who was able to block Kofi’s jump hook,” Underwood said.
Eastern Illinois: The Panthers will face Monmouth College of Illinois on Wednesday in their home opener.
Illinois: The Illini continue their six-game homestand by hosting Oakland of Michigan on Friday.
CHAMPAIGN — University of Illinois head coach Brad Underwood announced Wednesday the signing of top-35 national recruit Morez Johnson Jr. and three-star prospects Jason Jakstys and Jase Butler to national letters of intent on the first day of the early signing period. This is the fifth top-20 class of Underwood’s Illini tenure, currently ranked No. 17 by 247Sports Composite and No. 19 by Rivals.
“We hit a homerun in this class; I couldn’t be happier,” Underwood said. “We set out with specific needs, and we addressed those with the additions of Morez, Jason and Jase. I think we’ve got one of the top classes, not just in the Big Ten, but in the country. And you partner these three young men with the group that we’ll have back, and I’m really excited. I look forward to coaching these guys and helping them reach their dreams and goals.”
“The transfer portal has changed things from the standpoint of getting old, but we’re still a program of development and growth,” Underwood continued.
“Finding high-character guys that want to be a part of Adam Fletcher’s workout program, the strength and conditioning piece, the nutrition piece, the player development with our coaches on the floor, all of that played a big part in the recruitment with these three. Again, you feel great when you’ve met your needs and hit exactly what you wanted to hit, and we did that with this class.”
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