Box Score Game Book (pdf)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The Wofford men’s basketball was defeated 78-64 by Illinois at Assembly Hall on Tuesday night in the HoopTV Las Vegas Invitational. After the Terriers tied the game at 50 in the second half, the 20th ranked Illini went on an 8-0 run and were able to build a 15 point lead late in the game.

Wofford is 2-3 overall, while Illinois is 4-0 on the season. The Terriers were led by Junior Salters with 15 points and Noah Dahlman with thirteen points. Corey Godzinski added twelve points and was the leading rebounder with five. The Illini were led by Demetri McCamey with 21 points and D.J. Richardson had fifteen points. Mike Davis had a double-double with 16 points and eleven rebounds.

“We made eight first half threes and that is not luck as we have good shooters,” said head coach Mike Young. “We cooled off a little bit in the second half. All in all I was really pleased with our determination and our willingness to share the ball. We got better tonight. This Illinois team is going to win a lot of games and could advance deep in the NCAA Tournament. We came in here and we fought them. I am discouraged that we lost, but encouraged with a lot of things that I saw from our team.”

The Terriers scored first and built an 8-2 lead after three pointers from Junior Salters and Cameron Rundles. Illinois tied the game at 10 each four minutes into the game. Wofford went up 18-12 after threes by Corey Godzinski and Brad Loesing at 13:43. The Terriers pushed the lead to eight points at 26-18 after another three by Junior Salters with eight minutes left in the half.

Wofford was able to maintain the lead at seven with a 32-25 score at the 4:19 mark. However, the Illini went on an 8-0 run to take their first lead of the night at 33-32 with 1:54 left in the half. Wofford answered and after a three by Junior Salters with 25 seconds left, the Terriers were up 39-37. Illinois scored the last five points of the half, including a three at the buzzer by Demetri McCamey to take a 42-39 lead at the break.

In the second half, Illinois added to the lead and were up 49-44. Wofford battled back and tied the game at 50-50 after threes from Junior Salters and Kevin Giltner at the 14:18 mark. The Illini ran off the next eight points and used a 14-3 run and had a 64-53 lead at the seven minute mark. Illinois pushed the lead to 15 points twice, but the final score was 78-64 as the Illini defense stifled the Wofford offense in the final twelve minutes.

Wofford shot 39.3% from the floor and 38.7% from three. The Terriers were a season-low 53.3% from the line. The Illini shot 57.1% from the floor and from behind the arc. Illinois was 63.6% from the free throw line. Wofford had a 34 to 29 lead on rebounds.

The Terriers will continue the four-game road trip as part of the HoopTV Las Vegas Invitational. On Friday and Saturday, the Terriers will play Southern and Seattle in Las Vegas. Wofford will then play two more road games before hosting Appalachian State at Benjamin Johnson Arena on December 7.