How to Watch Illinois vs. Colgate
Game Time: 8 p.m. Friday
TV Channel: N/A
Online Streaming: BTN+
Odds: N/A (Illinois 98.6% Chance To Win – ESPN Matchup Predictor)
Quick Hits:
Illinois Fighting Illini (3-0, 0-0 Big Ten)
Head Coach: Brad Underwood (9th season, 168-101)
Last Game: Illinois 81, Texas
Tech 77
Gameday Reading:
Colgate Raiders (1-2, 0-0 Patriot)
Head Coach: Matt Langel (15th season)
Last Game: Beat Drexel 90-83
What Happened the Last Time These Two Teams Played?
- Illinois leads all-time series 5-0.
Dec. 17, 2023: Illinois 74, Colgate 57
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — There was no finals week slump for the Illini.
The orange and blue controlled this one from start to finish. Behind 16 points from Coleman Hawkins, Illinois beat Colgate 74-57 in commanding fashion.
Despite being off for more than a week since the Tennessee loss, the lllini came out hot, starting the game on a 14-0 run.
“Terrific start today,” said head coach Brad Underwood. “It impacted so much of the way that game went.”
Even after Colgate (6-5) got it to within seven when the score was 23-16, Illinois (8-2, 1-0 Big Ten) was able to comfortably pull away, taking a 44-27 lead into halftime.
At the break, Terrence Shannon Jr. led all scorers with 14 points along with 3 blocks on the defensive side of the ball. No other player on either team ended the half in double digits.
Aside from Shannon, Hawkins was able to knock down a pair of three’s and ended up with 8 points in the first 20 minutes.
Illinois slowed down a lot coming out of the half, opening the second outscoring Colgate just 9-8 in the first 10 minutes.
Colgate once again got to within 9, fueled by a 13-2 run where the Raiders made 8 consecutive shots.
However, the Illini defense flexed their muscles on the perimeter, as they held the Raiders to just 1-of-7 shooting from three in the second half.
While Illinois won without any serious threat, Colgate was effective in transition and the orange and blue struggled from the three point line. The win was fairly comfortable, but there’s definitely still room for improvement.
Shannon continued to play at an All-American level on both ends of the floor, shooting 4-of-4 from the free throw line, finishing with 5 blocks and a player efficiency of 13.
