Illinois Basketball: Illini bounce back with 21-point home win against Alabama A&M

A much-needed week off paid dividends for the No. 18 Illinois basketball team Saturday afternoon.

After a week off and experiencing the highest highs and lowest lows, the Illini got a well-deserved nonconference home win against Alabama A&M, 68-47, on Saturday despite an underwhelming start to the second half.

Illinois (8-3, 0-2 Big Ten) jumped out to a 36-19 lead before the game swung on its axis as the Bulldogs (4-7) began to get hot from behind the three-point arc. A 17-0 scoring run pulled the visitors to within a single point (38-37), as Alabama A&M’s leading scorer, Garrett Hicks, finished with 13 points. After the Illini went ahead 42-37 at the 10:26 mark of regulation, the team never looked back.

Matthew Mayer finished with 21 points in what was easily his best home start in an Illini uniform. Despite the performance and victory, Mayer, a Baylor transfer, still believes that he and his team can do so much more as a unit.

"“We’ve got a lot to figure out internally between the players and the coaches,” Mayer said during his post-game scrum. “”I think the team will be fine. I’m just upset.”"

Brad Underwood disagrees, as he feels that Mayer is just coming into his own after four years of working in the same system. Mayer nursed a back injury when he arrived in Champaign in the spring.

"“Every player, Matt’s been in a system for four years<” Underwood said. “Not every player is like him. I think there are challenges he has to work through in being somewhere different. Personally, liked what I saw.  I’m sure he was frustrated. He picks up a couple early fouls, he’s going early and he found a way late.”"

Mayer wasn’t the only player with double-figures, as Terrance Shannon Jr. had 18 points of his own in another electrifying display of good guard play.

Illinois basketball looks ahead to Braggin’ Rights game.

The Illini won’t have much time to rest, as they will turn the page to the annual Braggin’ Rights game Thursday night against the Missouri Tigers (10-1). Missouri won on a last-second buzzer-beater against UCF, 68-66, before Illinois’ afternoon win.

Tipoff is scheduled for 8 p.m. CT in front of a sold-out Enterprise Center.