Illinois Comes Up Short Against Northwestern

Three different players finished in double figures, with Matthew Mayer's 17 points leading the way for the Illini. Mayer eclipsed 1,000 career points after making two free throws late in the second half.

Jayden Epps tallied 11 points off the bench, his ninth double-digit scoring performance this season. Coleman Hawkins scored 10 points, while Dain Dainja recorded nine points and a team-high nine rebounds after making his second-straight start. Terrence Shannon Jr. dropped a career-high seven assists to go along with nine points and five rebounds.

Illinois returns to State Farm Center on Saturday at 12:30 p.m. CT to take on No. 14 Wisconsin.

TEAM NOTES

Illinois held Northwestern to 32.1 percent (17-53) from the floor. The Illini have held two-straight opponents to below 35 percent shooting from the field and three of their last four.

The Illini outrebounded the Wildcats 38 to 35.

Illinois has secured more rebounds than its opponents in all but two games this season.

The Illini led in second-chance points seven to three.

Illinois led Northwestern in points in the paint (22/14) and in bench points (15/12).

The Illini assisted on 13 of their 23 field goals.

PLAYER NOTES

Fifth year Matthew Mayer scored a team-high 17 points on 5-for-11 shooting, including 3-for-7 from behind the arc.

He eclipsed the 1,000 point mark for his career after hitting a pair of free throws with 5:25 left in the second half.

Mayer has made at least three 3-pointers in three of his last four games.

Freshman Jayden Epps scored 11 points off of the bench.

Epps has double-digit scoring efforts in three-straight games.

Redshirt sophomore Dain Dainja scored nine points (4-6) and added nine rebounds in 24 minutes of action, making his second-straight start.

Dainja has three-straight games with at least six rebounds and it was his third game this season with at least nine rebounds.

Senior Terrence Shannon Jr. dropped a career-high seven assists.