By IlliniGuys Staff

November 4, 2024

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - No Illini freshman has enjoyed a debut like Will Riley.

The 6-foot-8 wing from Canada scored 26 of his 31 points in the second half as Illinois thumped visiting Eastern Illinois 112-67 in the season opener for both team Monday night.

Riley setting a school record for most points in a freshman player's debut by hitting 10-of-13 from the field and 5-of-6 from three-point range.

Illinois (1-0) landed five players in double figures as Dravyn Gibbs-Lawhorn scored a career-high 21 points. Evansville transfer Ben Humrichous scored 14 while Tomislav Ivisic added 14 and Kasparas Jakucionis 11.  Ivisic added 14 rebounds for a double-double in his college debut just days after the NCAA cleared the Croatian native to play this season.

In all, the Illini drained 16 three-pointers and took advantage at the free throw line with 34-of-46 shooting at the stripe.  Illinois also dominated the boards with a 58-28 advantage.

Morez Johnson Jr., the 2024 Illinois Mr. Basketball, blocked six shots to tie the school freshman record held by James Griffin and Kofi Cockburn.

Nakyel Shelton led Eastern Illinois (0-1) with 16 points.

Riley was widely regarded as a top 10 prospect as a Class of 2025 player for the Phelps school in suburban Philadelphia, but decided in June to reclassify and join the Illinois program immediately.  The highest-rated signee since Dee Brown, Riley showed the 15,246 in attendance why he is such a highly-regarded talent who has already caught the attention of NBA scouts.

The Illini will host SIU-Edwardsville Friday night (7pm CST, Peacock).

Stay with IlliniGuys.com for complete postgame coverage.