Player of the Game: Illinois guard Malcolm Hill
No argument for any other player from this game. The 6-foot-6 senior repeats after scoring 51 percent of the Illini’s points and pulling down 38 percent of his team’s rebounds.
Backcourt: Northern Kentucky: C-, Illinois: A+
Hill’s 40-point performance carries a lot of weight here, but the Illini also limited turnovers for the first time this season and got nine points and three assists from Jaylon Tate, who got the start in a dual point guard backcourt with Tracy Abrams.
Frontcourt: Northern Kentucky: B+, Illinois: C-
The Illini had a negative-11 rebounding margin against the Norse and gave up a rash of offensive rebounds.