By IlliniGuys Staff

December 22, 2023

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

ST. LOUIS, Mo. - All-American candidate Terrence Shannon Jr. nearly posted a double-double in the first half as 13th ranked Illinois handcuffed rival Missouri 97-73 in the annual Braggin' Rights game in downtown St. Louis Friday night.

The Illini (9-2) wanted to make a statement after getting run out of the gym by the Tigers in a 22-point rout a year ago.  The end result was never in question as Illinois led all but one minute of the first half as they doubled up the score 49-25 at intermission.

Shannon, who has led the team in scoring in 9 of 11 games this season, had 17 points and 9 rebounds at the break. But it was the stifling Illinois defense that made the difference, harassing the Tigers into just 24% shooting in the first half and just 6% - 1-of-17 - from the arc.

Illinois never let Mizzou get within striking distance the rest of the way.  Shannon finished with a game-high 30 points, his third career 30-point game and second this month after scoring a career-high 33 against Florida Atlantic on December 5th.  Quincy Guerrier added a career-high 28 points while Coleman Hawkins scored 15 - 13 coming in the first half - as the Illini scored their second win in the series in the past six years.  Marcus Domask heated up late to finish with 10 points despite going 0-for-7 from three-point range.

The Illini will get some rest over the holiday weekend before getting ready for a Fairleigh Dickinson team next Friday that upset top-seeded Purdue as a 16-seed in last year's NCAA tournament.  That will be their final non-conference tune-up before jumping back into Big Ten play after the New Year's holiday.

Stay with IlliniGuys.com for complete postgame coverage.