Illinois Drops Big Ten Opener To Penn State

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- In front of a sold-out State Farm Center crowd, No. 17 Illinois dropped its Big Ten home opener to Penn State, 74-59, in Champaign on Saturday afternoon. 

Matthew Mayer finished in double figures for the second straight game, scoring a team-high 14 points in the defeat, while Skyy Clark tallied 11 points and led the Illini with three 3-pointers, tying a career-high mark.

The Illini outrebounded the Nittany Lions, 32-26, including seven offensive rebounds, off of which Illinois recorded 10 second-chance points.

Illinois (7-3, 0-2) returns to State Farm Center next Saturday, Dec. 17, to take on Alabama A&M at 3 p.m. CT.

PLAYER NOTES

Fifth year Matthew Mayer scored 14 points and added three rebounds.

Mayer ended the first half with 14 points on 4-for-7 shooting, including 2-for-5 from behind the arc.

Mayer has made multiple 3-pointers in back-to-back games for the first time this season.

Mayer has back-to-back double-digit scoring performances for the first time this season.

Freshman Skyy Clark scored 11 points on 4-for-8 shooting and grabbed seven rebounds, setting a new career high.

Clark went 3-for-6 from deep, matching his career high for makes.

Junior Coleman Hawkins scored six points, secured seven rebounds and dished out six assists.

Hawkins has at least six assists in three games this season.

Hawkins has at least seven rebounds in four-straight games.