CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — This EIU-Illinois matchup was a bit different.
Five years after Illinois was stunned in an exhibition against Eastern Illinois ahead of Brad Underwood’s first season in Champaign, the Illini tipped off its 2022-23 campaign on Monday night at State Farm Center and took down the Panthers in steady fashion, 87-57.
And if Coleman Hawkins and transfer guard Terrence Shannon Jr. consistently play like this, it’ll be a fun year.
Hawkins (5 three-pointers) and Shannon (in his Illini debut) combined for 28 of the 46 points in the first half and led the way for Illinois (1-0).