By IlliniGuys Staff

November 24, 2023

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - Illinois was without starting forward Coleman Hawkins and reserve point guard Niccolo Moretti, but it didn't matter.

Illini forward Dain Dainja (42) tallied16 points and 8 rebounds in Friday night's win over Western Illinois. (Photo courtesy Joe Pickrell/IlliniGuys)

Terrence Shannon Jr. scored a team-high 19 points and Quincy Guerrier posted his second double-double of the season with 10 points and 15 rebounds as the Illini ran away from Western Illinois in the second half to post an 84-52 win Friday night at State Farm Center.

Illinois (5-1) had their best shooting night from the three-point arc this season, hitting 40% (10-of-25) on the night and showing some restraint as they didn't attempt a trey until Shannon hit one at the 13:45 mark of the first half.  That was also Shannon's first field goal attempt of the game.  The unanimous preseason all-Big Ten pick finished 6-of-8 from the arc.

It marked the third game in a row that do-it-all big man Hawkins missed with knee tendinitis.  He's expected to return for Illinois' next game.  Moretti remains in a walking boot and his next action may be a bit further down the road as the coaching staff monitors his lower leg injury.

Dain Dainja flirted with his third career double-double. The 6'9" sophomore posted double-doubles in his first two games as an Illini last season against Eastern Illinois and Kansas City.  He scored 16 points and grabbed eight rebounds against the Leathernecks.

James Dent Jr. scored a game-high 20 points for Western Illinois (2-4), which falls to 0-6 all-time against Illinois.

The Illini will be off until visiting Rutgers on Saturday, December 2nd in their Big Ten opener.

Stay with IlliniGuys.com for continuing postgame coverage.