Illinois 77, Chicago State 53: Jon Ekey scored 19 points, including five 3-pointers, to lead the Illini to a home win over the Cougars.

Rayvonte Rice, Tracy Abrams and Joseph Bertrand each added 12 points for Illinois (5-0), which easily won the boards battle, 39-20. Nnanna Egwu grabbed nine rebounds to lead the Illini.

Clarke Rosenberg led Chicago State (2-4) with 16 points, hitting 3-of-4 3-pointers. Matt Ross chipped in 13 points.

Illinois jumped out quickly, scoring 12 of the game's first 14 points, but Chicago State responded with its own 15-6 run to get right back in it. It was a two-point game with just under two minutes to play in the opening half when the Illini closed with a 5-0 spurt to take a seven-point halftime lead.

The Cougars trailed by 13 with just over 12 minutes to play before going on a 11-2 run to pull within four with eight minutes left. But Ekey had 10 straight points, including two 3-pointers, in a two-minute span to put the Illini comfortably ahead for good.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Chicago State G Quinton Pippen, the team's leading scorer, was held more than six points below his average with nine points. … This was the first game this season that Egwu hadn't scored 10 points, as he finished with six. … Illinois improved to a perfect 11-0 against the Cougars.