CHAMPAIGN — Jeremiah Tilmon and Mark Smith spent Friday going after one another. Or, at least their teams did, with Smith’s Edwardsville topping Tilmon’s East St. Louis 81-70 in a hotly contested Southwestern Conference game.
Smith had 19 points, nine assists and eight rebounds for the Tigers (21-1). Tilmon put up 14 points, 13 rebounds and two blocks for the Flyers (14-7). Tempers flared late in the game.
Come Saturday afternoon, Tilmon and Smith were seated side by side in the front row at State Farm Center, with the Illinois signee putting on his own recruiting pitch to one of the Illini’s top remaining targets in the Class of 2017.