Illinois Dominates In Win Over Monmouth

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Illinois dominated in its resounding 103-65 win over Monmouth at State Farm Center on Monday night in a career-best night for multiple Illini guards.

Terrence Shannon Jr. recorded a game-high and career-best 30 points in the win, while Jayden Epps registered a career-high 21 points in their third regular-season contest with the Illini.

Illinois led by as many as 44 in the victory, holding a lead for nearly the entire game. After Shannon opened the scoring with a 3-pointer 13 seconds into the game, the Illini never looked back.

Dain Dainja notched 15 points off the bench, his third straight game in double figures.

The Illini forced 24 turnovers and made 11 steals in the 38-point victory.

Illinois jumped out to an 8-0 lead less than one minute into the contest, with Shannon, RJ Melendez, and Skyy Clark all getting involved early. The Illini made their first five field-goal attempts, a run that including four three-pointers, to open up a 14-6 advantage.

Dainja came off the bench and immediately made an impact, scoring eight points, while Shannon continued his hot start to fuel a 31-5 run over a six-and-a-half-minute stretch and open a 31-point lead with seven minutes to play in the opening half.

The Illini shot 76.7 percent from the field and 60 percent from beyond the arc in the first 20 minutes of play, heading into halftime with a 63-33 advantage. Shannon led all scorers with 21, while Epps recorded 15 points off the bench on 75 percent shooting in the first half.

Melendez came out of the break with confidence, notching seven of Illinois' first 12 points as the host's lead climbed to 36 with less than 15 minutes to play.

A 6-0 Illini run over a 63-second stretch, capped off by a Coleman Hawkins steal and emphatic dunk, extended their advantage to 39, 81-42, midway through the final half.

After Monmouth cut its deficit to 35, Illinois used a 7-0 stretch as its lead jumped to 42, while Shannon registered four points on that run to bring him to 30 on the night.

The Illini lead grew as large as 44 in the victory that moved Illinois to 3-0 on the season.

Illinois heads to Las Vegas at the end of the week for the Continental Tire Main Event. The Illini will take on UCLA on Friday at 8:30 p.m. CT to open its weekend.