Paul Leads No. 23 Illinois To 80-61 Win Over Northern Illinois

Brandon Paul had 20 points and Mike Davis scored 14 with 17 rebounds, as 23rd-ranked Illinois pulled away late to top Northern Illinois, 80-61, at Assembly Hall.

Demetri McCamey, Dominique Keller and Mike Tisdale each posted 10 points for the Illini (2-0), who blasted SIU-Edwardsville 96-69 in their season-opener last Friday.

Najul Ervin and Tony Nixon paced the visitors with 10 points apiece as the Huskies (0-2) collectively shot 36.8 percent from the field and turned the ball over 19 times. Northern Illinois lost to Northwestern, 77-55, in its opener last Friday.

Northern Illinois was in it early as Nixon drove the lane for two, then nailed a three-pointer before Ante Dzepina dropped in a layup to tie the game at 18 7 1/2 minutes into the game.

Paul, though, knocked down two three-pointers amid the visiting surge and kicked off an 18-4 run that got the Illini back on track. Davis had seven points to help carry the effort while Tyler Griffey finished it out with consecutive layups for a 36-22 lead at the seven-minute mark.

The surge continued and eventually stretched to 24-6 as Keller’s jump shot made it a 42-24 game with 5 1/2 minutes remaining.

The Huskies regrouped to score 14 of the final 17 points going into the break down 49-41 on back-to-back three-pointers from Michael Patton and Bryan Hall.

Northern Illinois picked up right where they left off to start the second half, scoring the first five points to make it a one possession game.

The Illini got the lead back to nine a short time later and a 10-0 run — capped by six straight points from Tisdale — opened up a 67-50 advantage with 9:14 to play.

The visitors kept hanging around and cut the deficit to 10 on back-to-back Ervin makes and a Tyler Storm three-pointer, but went nearly five minutes down the stretch without a field goal as Illinois pulled away.

A 9-0 run for the host ensued as Tisdale’s consecutive baskets with 3:21 to go were good for a 19-point lead — a margin that proved insurmountable for the Huskies.

Despite residing in the same state, this game marks the first-ever meeting between the Huskies and Illini on the hardwood…This was the second of four straight home games the Illini play to kick off the 2009-10 season. They next welcome Presbyterian on Saturday…The Huskies have lost 37 of their last 42 road games, and are just 1-30 all-time against Big Ten opponents away from home…Northern Illinois next opens its home schedule Friday against Tennessee State…McCamey also logged a game-high eight assists in the win for Illinois.

Via Sports Network