Dainja scores 22 as Illinois defeats Bethune-Cookman 85-52
AP
Dec 29, 2022
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) Dain Dainja scored a career-high 22 points and led five players in double-digit scoring as Illinois Fighting Illini returned from a week off to power past Bethune-Cookman Wildcats, 85-52 on Thursday night.
Neither team scored for more than two minutes to start the game. Illinois scored first on Coleman Hawkins' layup at the 17:36 mark. The Wildcats went scoreless for the first five minutes and trailed 47-19 at intermission.
Dainja, who scored in double digits in the Illini's first four games, accomplished the feat for the first time since posting 13 points in Illinois' 79-70 win over UCLA on November 18.
Terrence Shannon Jr. came into the game averaging 18.2 points per game and finished with for Illinois. Sencire Harris scored 12 points, grabbed four rebounds and had three assists, Coleman Hawkins added a double-double of 11 points and 11 rebounds. Jayden Epps pitched in with 10 points off the bench. Mathew Mayer had his string of games with at least 14 points snapped at four, finishing with seven on 2-for-9 shooting. He is now 11 points shy of 1,000 for his career.
Kevin Davis scored 13 points to lead Bethune Cookman (4-9). Reserve Dylan Robertson added 12 points.
UP NEXT
Illinois opens Big Ten Conference play Wednesday at Northwestern.
Bethune-Cookman plays at Florida A&M in its Southwestern Conference opener Monday.
--
More AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball and https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://twitter.com/AP-Top25
Copyright 2025 STATS LLC and Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and Associated Press is strictly prohibited.
1st Half
COOK
Wildcats
19
ILL
Fighting Illini
47
Time
Team
Play
Score
20:00
(Wildcats gains possession)
19:40
Elijah Hulsewe turnover (Terrence Shannon Jr. steals)
19:34
Terrence Shannon Jr. turnover (Marcus Garrett steals)
19:26
Kevin Davis misses three point jump shot
19:24
Coleman Hawkins defensive rebound
19:13
Joe French shooting foul (Dain Dainja draws the foul)
19:13
Dain Dainja misses regular free throw 1 of 2
19:13
Dain Dainja misses regular free throw 2 of 2
19:13
Elijah Hulsewe defensive rebound
18:58
Marcus Garrett misses two point jump shot
18:56
Sencire Harris defensive rebound
18:52
Sencire Harris turnover (Marcus Garrett steals)
18:28
Kevin Davis misses three point jump shot
18:26
Sencire Harris defensive rebound
17:58
Elijah Hulsewe blocks Matthew Mayer's two point layup
17:56
Elijah Hulsewe defensive rebound
17:50
Marcus Garrett misses two point jump shot
17:48
Kevin Davis offensive rebound
17:42
Dain Dainja blocks Joe French's two point jump shot
17:40
Terrence Shannon Jr. defensive rebound
17:36
+2
Coleman Hawkins makes two point layup (Sencire Harris assists)
0-2
17:11
Marcus Garrett turnover (Terrence Shannon Jr. steals)
17:05
+2
Terrence Shannon Jr. makes two point layup
0-4
16:39
Elijah Hulsewe offensive foul
16:39
Elijah Hulsewe turnover (offensive foul)
16:28
+3
Sencire Harris makes three point jump shot (Dain Dainja assists)
0-7
16:27
Elijah Hulsewe shooting foul (Sencire Harris draws the foul)
16:27
Sencire Harris misses regular free throw 1 of 1
16:27
Elijah Hulsewe defensive rebound
16:02
Dain Dainja blocks Marcus Garrett's two point layup
16:00
Sencire Harris defensive rebound
15:53
+3
Matthew Mayer makes three point jump shot (Coleman Hawkins assists)
0-10
15:28
Joe French misses three point jump shot
15:26
Matthew Mayer defensive rebound
15:18
Coleman Hawkins turnover (bad pass)
15:18
TV timeout
15:03
+2
Kevin Davis makes two point jump shot (Zion Harmon assists)
2-10
14:47
RJ Melendez misses three point jump shot
14:45
Zion Harmon defensive rebound
14:38
Zion Harmon turnover (carrying)
14:28
+3
Terrence Shannon Jr. makes three point jump shot (Coleman Hawkins assists)
2-13
14:06
Dylan Robertson misses two point layup
14:04
Dylan Robertson offensive rebound
14:01
+2
Dylan Robertson makes two point layup
4-13
13:40
Dylan Robertson blocks Terrence Shannon Jr.'s two point layup
13:38
Kevin Davis defensive rebound
13:32
Kevin Davis turnover (traveling)
13:04
Coleman Hawkins misses three point jump shot
13:24
+2
Jayden Epps makes two point layup (Ty Rodgers assists)
4-15
13:24
Zion Harmon shooting foul (Jayden Epps draws the foul)
13:24
+1
Jayden Epps makes regular free throw 1 of 1
4-16
13:13
Zion Harmon misses two point jump shot
13:11
Dain Dainja defensive rebound
13:04
Coleman Hawkins misses three point jump shot
13:02
Damani McEntire defensive rebound
12:55
+2
Kevin Davis makes two point layup
6-16
12:38
+3
RJ Melendez makes three point jump shot
6-19
12:22
Zion Harmon turnover (Dain Dainja steals)
12:17
+2
Jayden Epps makes two point layup
6-21
11:58
Zion Harmon turnover (Coleman Hawkins steals)
11:46
RJ Melendez misses three point jump shot
11:44
Marcus Garrett defensive rebound
11:41
Kevin Davis turnover (traveling)
11:41
TV timeout
11:32
Ty Rodgers misses two point layup
11:30
Damani McEntire defensive rebound
11:25
+2
Dylan Robertson makes two point layup (Lukas Gudavicius assists)
8-21
10:54
Zion Harmon shooting foul (RJ Melendez draws the foul)
10:54
+1
RJ Melendez makes regular free throw 1 of 2
8-22
10:54
+1
RJ Melendez makes regular free throw 2 of 2
8-23
10:40
Marcus Garrett offensive foul
10:40
Marcus Garrett turnover (offensive foul)
10:20
Dylan Robertson shooting foul (Dain Dainja draws the foul)
10:20
Dain Dainja misses regular free throw 1 of 2
10:20
+1
Dain Dainja makes regular free throw 2 of 2
8-24
9:58
Marcus Garrett turnover (Dain Dainja steals)
9:52
Terrence Shannon Jr. misses two point layup
9:50
Dain Dainja offensive rebound
9:47
+2
Dain Dainja makes two point dunk
8-26
9:46
Matthew Mayer shooting foul (Dylan Robertson draws the foul)
9:46
+1
Dylan Robertson makes regular free throw 1 of 2
9-26
9:46
+1
Dylan Robertson makes regular free throw 2 of 2
10-26
9:36
+2
Dain Dainja makes two point layup
10-28
9:24
Lukas Gudavicius turnover
9:18
Matthew Mayer misses three point jump shot
9:16
Dain Dainja offensive rebound
9:09
Dain Dainja misses two point jump shot
9:07
Coleman Hawkins offensive rebound
8:55
Matthew Mayer misses three point jump shot
8:53
Marcus Garrett defensive rebound
8:45
Joe French misses three point jump shot
8:43
Coleman Hawkins defensive rebound
8:35
+2
Matthew Mayer makes two point jump shot
10-30
8:14
Joe French misses three point jump shot
8:12
Coleman Hawkins defensive rebound
8:06
Dylan Robertson shooting foul (Terrence Shannon Jr. draws the foul)
8:06
+1
Terrence Shannon Jr. makes regular free throw 1 of 2
10-31
8:06
Terrence Shannon Jr. misses regular free throw 2 of 2
8:06
Damani McEntire defensive rebound
7:41
Jayden Epps personal foul
7:41
TV timeout
7:30
Sencire Harris blocks Marcus Garrett's two point layup
7:28
Wildcats offensive rebound
7:20
Marcus Garrett misses three point jump shot
7:18
RJ Melendez defensive rebound
6:56
+2
Ty Rodgers makes two point dunk (Sencire Harris assists)
10-33
6:47
Kevin Davis misses three point jump shot
6:45
Damani McEntire offensive rebound
6:38
Zion Harmon misses two point jump shot
6:36
Coleman Hawkins defensive rebound
6:24
RJ Melendez misses three point jump shot
6:22
Coleman Hawkins offensive rebound
6:05
Kevin Davis personal foul (Matthew Mayer draws the foul)
6:05
+1
Matthew Mayer makes regular free throw 1 of 2
10-34
6:05
+1
Matthew Mayer makes regular free throw 2 of 2
10-35
5:59
Sencire Harris personal foul (Zion Harmon draws the foul)
5:52
Kevin Davis misses two point layup
5:50
RJ Melendez defensive rebound
5:42
RJ Melendez turnover (Damani McEntire steals)
5:42
Matthew Mayer blocks Kevin Davis's two point layup
5:40
Elijah Hulsewe offensive rebound
5:34
Elijah Hulsewe turnover (Dain Dainja steals)
5:34
+2
Sencire Harris makes two point layup (Terrence Shannon Jr. assists)
10-37
5:10
Elijah Hulsewe turnover (Dain Dainja steals)
4:58
Damani McEntire shooting foul (Terrence Shannon Jr. draws the foul)
4:58
+1
Terrence Shannon Jr. makes regular free throw 1 of 2
10-38
4:58
+1
Terrence Shannon Jr. makes regular free throw 2 of 2
10-39
4:27
+2
Joe French makes two point jump shot
12-39
4:12
Matthew Mayer misses three point jump shot
4:10
Damani McEntire defensive rebound
4:02
Jayden Epps blocks Zion Harmon's two point layup
4:00
Wildcats offensive rebound
3:54
Joe French turnover (Terrence Shannon Jr. steals)
3:48
+2
Brandon Lieb makes two point layup (Coleman Hawkins assists)
12-41
3:31
Zion Harmon misses two point jump shot
3:31
Elijah Hulsewe offensive rebound
3:31
Elijah Hulsewe misses two point dunk
3:29
Brandon Lieb defensive rebound
3:22
+3
Jayden Epps makes three point jump shot (Terrence Shannon Jr. assists)
12-44
3:17
Wildcats 30 second timeout
3:17
TV timeout
2:48
Joe French misses two point jump shot
2:46
Brandon Lieb defensive rebound
2:43
Coleman Hawkins misses three point jump shot
2:40
Brandon Lieb personal foul
2:22
+3
Marcus Garrett makes three point jump shot (Joe French assists)
15-44
2:07
Jayden Epps misses three point jump shot
2:05
Lukas Gudavicius defensive rebound
1:57
Lukas Gudavicius misses two point layup
1:55
Coleman Hawkins defensive rebound
1:34
Coleman Hawkins turnover (Damani McEntire steals)
1:29
Jayden Epps shooting foul (Kevin Davis draws the foul)
1:29
+1
Kevin Davis makes regular free throw 1 of 2
16-44
1:29
+1
Kevin Davis makes regular free throw 2 of 2
17-44
1:17
+2
Dain Dainja makes two point dunk (Coleman Hawkins assists)
17-46
1:01
Kevin Davis misses two point layup
0:59
Coleman Hawkins defensive rebound
0:57
Marcus Garrett shooting foul (Dain Dainja draws the foul)
0:57
Dain Dainja misses regular free throw 1 of 2
0:57
+1
Dain Dainja makes regular free throw 2 of 2
17-47
0:28
Damani McEntire misses three point jump shot
0:26
Coleman Hawkins defensive rebound
0:21
Coleman Hawkins turnover (Kevin Davis steals)
0:21
Sencire Harris shooting foul (Marcus Garrett draws the foul)
0:21
Fighting Illini 30 second timeout
0:21
+1
Marcus Garrett makes regular free throw 1 of 2
18-47
0:21
+1
Marcus Garrett makes regular free throw 2 of 2
19-47
0:04
Terrence Shannon Jr. misses three point jump shot
0:02
Lukas Gudavicius defensive rebound
0:00
End of period
2nd Half
COOK
Wildcats
33
ILL
Fighting Illini
38
Time
Team
Play
Score
19:45
Elijah Hulsewe shooting foul (Dain Dainja draws the foul)
19:45
+1
Dain Dainja makes regular free throw 1 of 2
19-48
19:45
+1
Dain Dainja makes regular free throw 2 of 2
19-49
19:28
Derrick Carter-Hollinger Jr. misses two point jump shot
19:26
Dain Dainja defensive rebound
19:05
Matthew Mayer misses three point jump shot
19:03
Matthew Mayer offensive rebound
19:03
Marcus Garrett personal foul
18:51
+2
Sencire Harris makes two point jump shot
19-51
18:31
Dain Dainja blocks Elijah Hulsewe's two point layup
18:29
Elijah Hulsewe offensive rebound
18:29
Elijah Hulsewe turnover (out of bounds)
18:05
Matthew Mayer misses two point layup
18:03
Elijah Hulsewe defensive rebound
17:34
Zion Harmon misses two point layup
17:32
Dylan Robertson offensive rebound
17:29
+2
Dylan Robertson makes two point layup
21-51
17:11
+2
Dain Dainja makes two point layup
21-53
16:50
+3
Zion Harmon makes three point jump shot
24-53
16:29
Damani McEntire personal foul
16:15
+2
Dain Dainja makes two point layup (Terrence Shannon Jr. assists)
24-55
15:59
+2
Kevin Davis makes two point layup (Zion Harmon assists)
26-55
15:47
Sencire Harris turnover
15:37
Dylan Robertson misses two point jump shot
15:35
Matthew Mayer defensive rebound
15:29
+2
Dain Dainja makes two point dunk (Sencire Harris assists)
26-57
15:06
Coleman Hawkins blocks Kevin Davis's two point layup
15:04
Matthew Mayer defensive rebound
14:59
+2
Coleman Hawkins makes two point layup (Matthew Mayer assists)
26-59
14:55
Wildcats 30 second timeout
14:55
TV timeout
14:49
+2
Dylan Robertson makes two point dunk (Zion Harmon assists)
28-59
14:29
Coleman Hawkins misses three point jump shot
14:27
Damani McEntire defensive rebound
14:14
TV timeout
14:10
Ty Rodgers shooting foul (Derrick Carter-Hollinger Jr. draws the foul)
14:11
+1
Derrick Carter-Hollinger Jr. makes regular free throw 1 of 2
29-59
14:11
+1
Derrick Carter-Hollinger Jr. makes regular free throw 2 of 2
30-59
13:53
+3
Terrence Shannon Jr. makes three point jump shot
30-62
13:29
Derrick Carter-Hollinger Jr. misses two point jump shot
13:27
RJ Melendez defensive rebound
13:21
Terrence Shannon Jr. turnover (Damani McEntire steals)
13:18
RJ Melendez shooting foul (Damani McEntire draws the foul)
13:18
Damani McEntire misses regular free throw 1 of 2
13:18
+1
Damani McEntire makes regular free throw 2 of 2
31-62
12:57
RJ Melendez misses three point jump shot
12:55
Zion Harmon defensive rebound
12:50
RJ Melendez shooting foul (Dylan Robertson draws the foul)
12:50
+1
Dylan Robertson makes regular free throw 1 of 2
32-62
12:50
+1
Dylan Robertson makes regular free throw 2 of 2
33-62
12:34
Sencire Harris misses three point jump shot
12:32
Kevin Davis defensive rebound
12:19
Lukas Gudavicius misses two point layup
12:17
Ty Rodgers defensive rebound
12:04
Ty Rodgers turnover (Damani McEntire steals)
11:56
+2
Damani McEntire makes two point jump shot
35-62
11:56
Fighting Illini 30 second timeout
11:56
TV timeout
11:34
+2
Jayden Epps makes two point jump shot
35-64
11:04
Kevin Davis misses two point jump shot
11:02
Dylan Robertson offensive rebound
10:56
Lukas Gudavicius misses two point layup
10:52
Dylan Robertson turnover
10:52
+2
Coleman Hawkins makes two point dunk (Dain Dainja assists)
35-66
10:25
Marcus Garrett misses two point layup
10:26
Dylan Robertson personal foul
10:26
Official timeout
10:12
+2
Dain Dainja makes two point layup
35-68
9:54
Dain Dainja blocks Marcus Garrett's two point layup
9:52
Wildcats offensive rebound
9:47
+2
Damani McEntire makes two point jump shot
37-68
9:28
Elijah Hulsewe personal foul (Dain Dainja draws the foul)
9:22
Jayden Epps misses three point jump shot
9:20
Damani McEntire defensive rebound
9:12
Matthew Mayer blocks Lukas Gudavicius's two point layup
9:10
Fighting Illini defensive rebound
9:03
Kevin Davis shooting foul (Coleman Hawkins draws the foul)
9:03
+1
Coleman Hawkins makes regular free throw 1 of 2
37-69
9:03
+1
Coleman Hawkins makes regular free throw 2 of 2
37-70
8:56
Damani McEntire turnover (Terrence Shannon Jr. steals)
8:51
Terrence Shannon Jr. misses three point jump shot
8:49
Dain Dainja offensive rebound
8:28
Dain Dainja misses two point layup
8:28
Damani McEntire defensive rebound
8:28
+2
Kevin Davis makes two point jump shot
39-70
8:14
+3
Coleman Hawkins makes three point jump shot (Jayden Epps assists)
39-73
7:59
+2
Damani McEntire makes two point jump shot
41-73
7:37
+2
Dain Dainja makes two point layup (Jayden Epps assists)
41-75
7:37
James Henderson Jr. shooting foul (Dain Dainja draws the foul)
7:37
TV timeout
7:40
Dain Dainja misses regular free throw 1 of 1
7:40
Lukas Gudavicius defensive rebound
7:22
Dain Dainja personal foul
7:22
Wildcats 30 second timeout
7:10
Marcus Garrett misses three point jump shot
7:08
Matthew Mayer defensive rebound
6:53
RJ Melendez misses three point jump shot
6:51
Brandon Lieb offensive rebound
6:45
Matthew Mayer misses three point jump shot
6:43
Terrence Shannon Jr. offensive rebound
6:43
James Henderson Jr. personal foul (Terrence Shannon Jr. draws the foul)
6:43
+1
Terrence Shannon Jr. makes regular free throw 1 of 2
41-76
6:43
+1
Terrence Shannon Jr. makes regular free throw 2 of 2
41-77
6:23
Brandon Lieb shooting foul (Elijah Hulsewe draws the foul)
6:23
+1
Elijah Hulsewe makes regular free throw 1 of 2
42-77
6:23
Elijah Hulsewe misses regular free throw 2 of 2
6:23
Terrence Shannon Jr. defensive rebound
6:04
Terrence Shannon Jr. turnover (Kevin Davis steals)
6:00
Sencire Harris personal foul (Lukas Gudavicius draws the foul)
5:52
Damani McEntire turnover (Ty Rodgers steals)
5:41
Brandon Lieb turnover (Damani McEntire steals)
5:38
Zion Harmon misses three point jump shot
5:36
Ty Rodgers defensive rebound
5:19
Ty Rodgers turnover (Kevin Davis steals)
5:10
Jayden Epps shooting foul (Zion Harmon draws the foul)
5:10
+1
Zion Harmon makes regular free throw 1 of 2
43-77
5:10
+1
Zion Harmon makes regular free throw 2 of 2
44-77
4:58
Dain Dainja turnover (traveling)
4:44
Damani McEntire misses two point jump shot
4:42
Coleman Hawkins defensive rebound
4:35
Coleman Hawkins turnover (Zion Harmon steals)
4:29
+2
Zion Harmon makes two point layup
46-77
4:10
Damani McEntire blocks Ty Rodgers's two point jump shot
4:08
Damani McEntire defensive rebound
4:04
+3
Kevin Davis makes three point jump shot (Damani McEntire assists)
49-77
3:33
Jayden Epps misses two point layup
3:31
Dain Dainja offensive rebound
3:31
Kevin Davis shooting foul (Dain Dainja draws the foul)
3:31
TV timeout
3:31
+1
Dain Dainja makes regular free throw 1 of 2
49-78
3:31
+1
Dain Dainja makes regular free throw 2 of 2
49-79
3:20
Lukas Gudavicius misses two point jump shot
3:18
Coleman Hawkins defensive rebound
3:09
Dain Dainja turnover (Kevin Davis steals)
2:52
+2
Elijah Hulsewe makes two point dunk
51-79
2:52
Ty Rodgers shooting foul (Elijah Hulsewe draws the foul)
2:52
+1
Elijah Hulsewe makes regular free throw 1 of 1
52-79
2:39
Damani McEntire personal foul (Ty Rodgers draws the foul)
2:39
+1
Ty Rodgers makes regular free throw 1 of 2
52-80
2:39
Ty Rodgers misses regular free throw 2 of 2
2:39
Elijah Hulsewe defensive rebound
2:23
Brandon Lieb personal foul (Elijah Hulsewe draws the foul)
2:23
Brandon Lieb personal foul (Elijah Hulsewe draws the foul)
2:29
Elijah Hulsewe misses regular free throw 1 of 1
2:29
Brandon Lieb defensive rebound
2:07
Sencire Harris misses two point layup
2:05
Lukas Gudavicius defensive rebound
1:59
Sencire Harris personal foul (Damani McEntire draws the foul)
1:59
Damani McEntire misses regular free throw 1 of 2
1:59
Damani McEntire misses regular free throw 2 of 2
1:59
Sencire Harris defensive rebound
1:54
+2
Sencire Harris makes two point dunk
52-82
1:38
Lukas Gudavicius turnover (out of bounds)
1:19
+3
Sencire Harris makes three point jump shot (Brandon Lieb assists)
52-85
1:08
Simeon Womack turnover
1:08
Wildcats 60 second timeout
0:57
RJ Melendez misses three point jump shot
0:51
RJ Melendez misses three point jump shot
0:49
Simeon Womack defensive rebound
0:23
Brandon Lieb blocks Simeon Womack's two point layup
