Illini rally To Beat North Dakota State

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) --  Center Mike Thorne Jr. scored 21 points as Illinois rallied from a 14-point deficit in the second half to defeat North Dakota State 80-74 on Sunday.

Thorne scored 13 points in the second half, and Illini freshman Jalen Coleman-Lands sparked Illinois on a 9-0 run to get back into the game. Coleman-Lands finished with 15 points. Illinois (1-1) trailed by 14 points in both halves.

Paul Miller scored 19 points to lead North Dakota State (1-1).

North Dakota State trailed for only 17 seconds in the first half and remained in the lead until Thorne converted a 3-point play for a 60-57 advantage for the Illini with 5:39 left as the Illini continued to work the ball inside. It gave the Illini their first lead since scoring the opening basket.

Memphis Women Beat EIU

Erica Brown ties her career record with 20 points, but Memphis came away with the victory Sunday [Nov. 15] afternoon 80-49. The loss drops EIU to 1-1 on the season while Memphis improves to 2-0.

EIU came out of the gates firing on all cylinders as they lead the Tigers 11-6 at the first media timeout. The Panthers forced six turnovers led by Shakita Cox earning two steals. Cox finished the game with three steals to her name. Memphis came out of the timeout and really turned up the pressure defensively forcing four turnovers in the remaining period earning ten points off of those turnovers to tie the match at 19 a piece at the end of the first quarter. EIU shot 45.5% in the first quarter.

The buckets would not fall for the Panthers in the second quarter as EIU shot 27% from the field only sinking three baskets. The Tigers started to come alive on both ends of the court forcing seven turnovers in the second period and shooting 67% fro the field. The Panthers went into halftime trailing 37-26.