CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) -Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn scored 18 points and Terrence Shannon Jr. added 16 as No. 25 Illinois pulled away in the second half to beat Eastern Illinois 80-52 on Monday night in an opener.

Twelve players scored for the Illini as they used their depth to turn away the Panthers in the non-conference game.

Gibbs-Lawhorn, a 6-foot-1 freshman guard on a team of mostly upperclassmen, ,made 7 of 10 shots, including a one-hand dunk in the first half that excited the crowd.

ā€œI wasnā€™t nervous,ā€ Gibbs-Lawson said. ā€œIā€™ve played against high-level players.ā€

Kooper Jacobi scored 10 points and had 11 rebounds for Eastern Illinois.

Ahead 37-25 at halftime, the Illini put away the Panthers with a 21-6 flurry to start the second half

Eastern Illinois took a 15-6 lead before the Illini rallied. It took a 10-point run in the final 3:03 of the first half to give Illinois its 12-point halftime lead. The Illini led at the break despite making only 4 of 17 3-point shots and shooting 3 for 10 on free throws.

They finished just 10 for 32 on 3s.

ā€œWe were flat. Unemotional. And we had no attention to detail,ā€ Illinois coach Brad Underwood said. ā€œBut we found a way to win.ā€

Illinois was 12 for 23 at the free-throw line.

ā€œWe came out flat and thatā€™s on me,ā€ Shannon said. ā€œI have to do a better job of being a leader.ā€

Eastern Michigan coach Marty Simmons was happy with his teamā€™s effort.

ā€œWe competed very well at the start. We just werenā€™t able to respond late in the first half when Illinois picked up the pressure,ā€ he said. ā€œI donā€™t think any of our guys had stage freight.ā€

BIG PICTURE

After beating No. 1 Kansas in an exhibition, the Illini were ragged early. After going 9-22 last season, Eastern Illinois stood its ground against the Illini for the most of the first half, providing hope for a turnaround season.

FOR OPENERS

Illinois is 40-2 in openers at the State Farm Center with a winning streak of 27 dating to Dec. 1, 1993.

CLOSE CONNECTION

Eastern Illinois Athletic Director Tom Michael was a four-year basketball letter-winner for Illinois from 1991-94. One of the best shooters in program history, he still holds Illini records for season (.493) and career (.449) three-point shooting.

BACK TO CHAMPAIGN

Eastern Illinois fifth-year senior Jermaine Hamlin began his college basketball career at Illinois, playing in the 2019-20 and 2020-21 seasons. During that time, the 6-foot-10 forwardā€™s primary role was to go up against All-American Kofi Cockburn during practices.

ā€œHeā€™s the only person Iā€™ve seen who was able to block Kofiā€™s jump hook,ā€ Underwood said.

UP NEXT

Eastern Illinois: The Panthers will face Monmouth of Ilinois on Wednesday in their home opener.

Illinois: The Illini continue their six-game homestand by hosting Oakland of Michigan on Friday.

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