No. 16 Texas Tech wasted no time putting No. 3 Illinois on the back foot Tuesday night, and the Red Raiders never let the Illini get all the way back in an 84-78 win in Lubbock, Texas.
Cruz Davis led Texas Tech with 20 points, while Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn added 15. Donovan Atwell chipped in 13 points and five steals, and Damarion Dennis finished with 10 as the Red Raiders improved to 3-0.
Texas Tech also got a major lift from Jamichael Stillwell, who made his season debut and finished with 11 points and 13 rebounds in 26 minutes off the bench. Stillwell was granted a temporary restraining order making him eligible to play by a Lubbock judge. He is seeking a fifth season of eligibility.
Illinois got 19 points from Quentin Coleman and 18 from Andrej Stojakovic. Tomislav Ivisic added 14 points and Stefan Vaaks scored 10 for the Fighting Illini, who fell to 2-1.
The Red Raiders built their biggest cushion before halftime and carried a 49-29 lead into the break. Davis and Gibbs-Lawhorn each scored 13 points in the first half, and Texas Tech closed the period with a 21-3 run that ended on Gibbs-Lawhorn’s 3-pointer to make it a 22-point game with 64 seconds left before halftime.
Illinois kept chipping away after the break. The Illini trimmed the margin to 58-48 on a jumper by Zavier Zens with 12:26 remaining, then Coleman hit back-to-back 3-pointers in 52 seconds to pull Illinois within 61-54. Vaaks followed with a layup that made it 61-58 with 8:11 left.
Still, Texas Tech had answers every time Illinois threatened. The Illini got as close as 65-64 after consecutive baskets by Stojakovic with 5:37 to play, but Dennis answered with a 3-pointer. After Stojakovic hit two free throws, Texas Tech grabbed three offensive rebounds on the next possession and Atwell buried a 3-pointer to stretch the lead to 71-66 with 4:01 remaining.
Atwell then added two free throws, Davis knocked down a jumper, and the Red Raiders were back in control at 75-67 with 2:17 left. Illinois got within 80-76 on Coleman’s 3-pointer with 33.5 seconds remaining, but Atwell and Darrion Williams each made two free throws to seal it.
Illinois shot 50.0% from the field, going 30 of 60, and made 10 of 34 from 3-point range. Texas Tech shot 40.0% overall, hitting 26 of 65, including 9 of 27 from deep. The Red Raiders also owned the glass, finishing with a 43-32 rebounding edge.
In Other News...
Greg Sankey Just Dragged Illinois Into The Big Ten SEC Fight
Greg Sankey took direct aim at the College Football Playoff debate this week, brushing aside the familiar argument that the SEC gets special treatment because of its media rights deal with ESPN. The SEC commissioner said the selection process is the same for every conference and pushed back on the idea that his league has been lobbying or steering the rankings behind the scenes.
His comments also pulled Illinois into the middle of the larger Big Ten-SEC argument, after he responded specifically to Bret Bielemas criticism. Sankey challenged Big Ten programs to prove themselves by scheduling non-conference games against SEC opponents, a pointed reminder that the debate over strength of schedule is not going away anytime soon. [Read more 🡒]
Illinois Just Got A Harsh Reminder About This Top 3 Team
Illinois got its first real jolt of the season against a Texas Tech team that looked every bit like a top-tier opponent, and the early damage was hard to ignore. The No. 3 Illini fell behind by 20 at halftime before making things more respectable after the break, but the comeback effort still ended in an 84-78 loss that exposed how thin the margin can be against elite competition.
Quentin Coleman gave Illinois a lift with 19 points and efficient shooting, but the rest of the offense never found a steady rhythm. Stefan Vaaks had a rough night on both ends, and the teams perimeter struggles were a major factor, with Illinois connecting on just 10 of 34 shots from beyond the arc. [Read more 🡒]
Illinois May Have Found Another Guard Fans Will Instantly Recognize
Illinois basketball came up short against Texas Tech, but Quentin Coleman gave the Illini another reason to pay attention to the backcourt. The freshman led the team with 19 points, added five rebounds, four assists and two steals, and his second-half surge stood out even in defeat. He was especially sharp after the break, finishing without a miss from the field or beyond the arc in that stretch.
For Illinois fans, the appeal goes beyond one strong outing. Colemans early-season production and the way he carries himself on the floor have invited comparisons to former Illini guard Keaton Wagler, another freshman who made his presence felt by doing a little of everything. It is still early, but Coleman is already showing the kind of all-around game that can make a newcomer feel familiar fast. [Read more 🡒]