D.J. Richardson scored 20 points and Tyler Griffey and Meyers Leonard had career nights in the paint to lead Illinois to a 66-46 victory over Southern Illinois-Edwardsville on Monday night.
The Illini (2-0) totaled 48 rebounds, better than in any game last season, with Griffey and Leonard setting career highs with 11 each.
The Cougars (2-1), led by 13 points from Mark Yelovich and 12 from Corey Wickware, fell to 0-11 all time against Big Ten opponents. They suffered their first defeat of the season after winning their first two regular-season games and two exhibitions.
The game was the first of the Cancun Challenge, which includes eight Division I teams. Eight games are being played in the U.S. and then eight in Cancun, Mexico.
NCAA Top-25 Men's Basketball (ESPN/"USA Today" Rankings)
------
#4 Connecticut Huskies 78, Wagner Seahawks 66
#5 Syracuse Orange 92 Manhattan Jaspers 56 (NIT Season Tip-Off)
#15 Alabama Crimson Tide 74, Oakland Grizzlies 57
#17 Michigan Wolverines 64, Towson Tigers 47 (Maui Invitational)
#19 Marquette Golden Eagles 99, Norfolk State Spartans 68
#23 Gonzaga Bulldogs 89, Washington State Cougars 81
#24 Florida State Seminoles 73, Central Florida Knights 50
#25 Missouri Tigers 81, Mercer Bears 63
NCAA Top-25 Men's Basketball (ESPN/"USA Today" Rankings)
------
9:00 p.m. - #2 Kentucky Wildcats vs. #11 Kansas Jayhawks (Champions Classic)
8:00 p.m. - #3 Ohio State Buckeyes host #8 Florida Gators
7:00 p.m. - #6 Duke Blue Devils vs. Michigan State Spartans (Champions Classic)
12:00 p.m. - #10 Memphis Tigers host Belmont Bruins (Maui Invitational)
2:00 p.m. - #12 Baylor Bears host San Diego State Aztecs
7:00 p.m. - #14 Xavier Musketeers host IPFW Mastodons
7:00 p.m. - #20 (tie) Cincinnati Bearcats host Jacksonville State Gamecocks
8:00 p.m. - #20 (tie) Vanderbilt Commodores host Bucknell Bison (Legends Classic)
10:00 p.m. - #22 California Golden Bears host Austin Peay Governors (CBE Classic)
