Illini Lose Opener to North Florida

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Published on November 14 2015 8:37 am
Last Updated on November 14 2015 8:37 am
Written by Greg Sapp

Dallas Moore scored 26 points and Beau Beech added 25 to lead North Florida to a 93-81 win over Illinois on Friday night.

Moore and Beech combined for 10-of-14 shooting from the three-point line and North Florida never trailed while defeating a Big 10 Conference team for the second straight season.

Center Mike Thorne, Jr. scored 25 points and grabbed 14 rebounds to lead Illinois. Malcolm Hill added 20 points, but Illinois lost a season opener for the first time since 1998.

North Florida, which qualified for the NCAA Tournament last season for the first time in school history, led by 23 points at halftime.

Beech made seven-of-eight from beyond the arc and North Florida was 17-of-33 on three-point attempts.

Illinois played its first of four games at Prairie Capital Convention Center in Springfield while the Assembly Hall renovation is being completed.