ATLANTA (AP) — Ravonte Rice scored 22 points Sunday, when he and Illinois shot at a torrid pace on the way to routing Auburn 81-62 in Philips Arena.
This was considered a “home” game for Auburn, which last year played Illinois in Chicago’s United Center as a visiting team.
The Illini (8-1) made a season-high 12 3-pointers on 23 attempts (52.2 percent) and shot 61.5 percent from the field (32 of 52). Illinois also held the SEC’s leading scorer, Auburn’s Chris Denson to eight points. He entered the game averaging 21.8, but made just three of seven shots Sunday.
Tracy Abrams added a season-high 17 points for Illinois, and Jon Ekey poured in 14 while making 4 of 6 from beyond the arc.
Auburn (4-3) was led by KT Harrell’s 23 points, and freshman Tahj Shamsid-Deen added 13 in a return to his hometown.
