CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Division II Wayne State led by two with 18:56 to play, but Division I Illinois pulled away in the second half for a 79-51 men's basketball exhibition win on Tuesday.
Wayne State led 37-35 early in the second half until going cold from the field.
Illinois went on a 14-0 run during the next five minutes to take control. Derrell Williams made one of two free throws at the 14:33 mark to stop the scoring drought, but Illinois had taken a 49-38 lead by that time. An Amry Shelby 3-pointer at the 9:14 mark pulled the Wildcats within 57-43, but that's as close as the Wildcats would get as Illinois pulled away for the win.
Shelby, a 5-foot-11 junior guard from Marion, Iowa, paced Wayne State in scoring with a game-high 22 points, making 7 of 13 shots from the field and 4 of 9 3-pointers while making all four free throws.He also led WSC in rebounding with five.
Vontrell Seroyer added nine points and five assists for the Wildcats, who shot 15 of 40 from the field for 37.5 percent. WSC was 6 of 18 from the 3-point line and 15 of 22 at the free-throw line.
Illinois had four players reach double figures led by Meyers Leonard with 18 points followed by Brandon Paul's 16 points and D.J. Richardson with 11.
The Illini shot 49 percent from the field, making 26 of 53 shots. Illinois was 4 of 13 from the 3-point line and 23 of 36 at the free-throw line.
Illinois won the rebounding battle 34-27 and forced the Wildcats into 21 turnovers, resulting in 29 Illinois points, while Illinois had just eight turnovers.
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