Champaign,  IL (SportsNetwork.com)  - Rayvonte Rice scored 17 points and added 
seven  rebounds  for Illinois as the  Fighting Illini took down the Penn State 
Nittany Lions, 75-55, in a Big Ten tilt at the State Farm Center. 

Tracy Abrams contributed 12 points, six rebounds and five assists for Illinois 
(13-2,  2-0 Big Ten) which has won four straight. Joseph Bertrand and Jon Ekey 
each had 11 points as well as seven and eight rebounds, respectively. 

John  Johnson scored  a game-high  18 points,  netting 4-of-6  shots from  the 
beyond  the arc  before fouling  out for  Penn State  (9-6, 0-2).  Tim Frazier 
chipped  in 10 points,  but hit just 3-of-11 from the floor. The Nittany Lions 
have lost three of their last four. 

Neither  team  had much  success in  the first  half. Illinois  shot at a 29.6 
percent  clip and  Penn State  was a  step behind,  netting 28.6  percent. The 
Illini took a 28-26 lead into halftime. 

After  intermission  Illinois only  improved to 41.4  percent shooting, but it 
also  nailed 20-of-22 from  the free-throw line to pull away for the win. Penn 
State had only nine field goals in the final 20 minutes. 

Illinois enjoyed a 44-33 edge on the boards. Penn State blocked seven shots.