>> LeVert, Donnal lead Michigan to 78-68 win over Illinois
Mark Donnal had 26 points, nine rebounds and three blocks - all career highs - and Caris LeVert scored 22 with a career-best tying 10 assists to help Michigan beat Illinois 78-68 Wednesday in the Big Ten opener for both teams.
LeVert scored the first nine points for the Wolverines (11-3), who have won five in a row.
Kendrick Nunn scored 23 points to lead the Illini (8-6). Jalen Coleman-Lands added 13.
Coleman-Lands hit a 3 to close the first half and give Illinois a 37-34 lead at the break.
Donnal scored seven during a 9-2 run to open the second half that put the Wolverines in front for good.
Nunn made a layup to pull Illinois within two with 13:48 left, but Michigan's Zak Irvin answered with a 3-pointer that sparked a 13-2 spurt and made it 61-48 about four minutes later and held off the Illini thereon.
>> Illinois State beats Missouri State 74-61 in MVC opener
Deontae Hawkins scored a season-high 17 points, making all five of his 3-point attempts, and Illinois State used a strong second half to pull away from Missouri State 74-61 Wednesday night in a Missouri Valley Conference opener for both teams.
Illinois State (7-7) made 15 3-pointers to set a school record.
Roland Griffin's 3 with 14:20 to play put the Redbirds up 39-37. Dequon Miller responded with a 3 for Missouri State before Hawkins' 3 immediately after gave Illinois State the lead for good.
Hawkins' 3 sparked a 23-2 run which Missouri State would never recover from. Hawkins hit four 3s during the offensive eruption while Tony Wills added another.
Dequon Miller scored 17 points for Missouri State (4-9), which led 21-8 early before the Redbirds cut the deficit to 27-25 at halftime.
>> Northern Iowa routs Bradley 80-44 in MVC opener
Jeremy Morgan scored 18 points and Northern Iowa routed Bradley 80-44 in the Missouri Valley Conference opener for both schools on Wednesday night.
Northern Iowa (9-5, 1-0) has won 13-straight conference home games dating back to the 2013-14 season. Its 36-point win set a conference record for largest margin of victory.
Morgan was 6 of 8 from the floor and had six rebounds and four assists. Bennett Koch scored 15 points, and Paul Jesperson and Klint Carlson added 12 apiece for Northern Iowa. Matt Bohannon chipped in 11 points with three 3-pointers.
Scottie James scored nine points to lead Bradley (2-12, 0-1). The Braves shot 33 percent from the field, scored a season-low 44 points, and have lost three straight.
It was tied at 9-all five minutes into the game. The Panthers used a 13-0 run and led 22-9 midway through the first half and cruised from there.
