Andres Feliz scored 23 points and grabbed 11 rebounds and Illinois beat Nicholls State 78-70 in overtime on Tuesday in a season opener for both teams.

Ayo Dosunmu scored 21, Giorgi Bezhanishvili added 11 points, and freshman big man Kofi Cockburn had 10 points and 11 rebounds for the Fighting Illini.

Nicholls State was led by Dexter McClanahan’s game-high 25 points. Elvis Harvey Jr. added 16 points for the Colonels.

Illinois was up 30-19 at the half and led by 20 points early in the second half before going cold. Nicholls State went on an 8-0 run late in regulation to tie the game at 64-64 with 1:48 left. Meanwhile, the Illini went the final five minutes of regulation without a field goal.

Down 66-64 after Harvey’s two free throws with less than two minutes left, the usually hot-handed Trent Frazier scored his first points of the game, sinking two free throws to send the game to overtime.

Illinois finally warmed up in the extra frame, with Feliz hitting two field goals and two free throws to seal the victory.

Illinois won the game at the free-throw line, sinking 19 of 29 to the Colonels’ 8-of-9 effort.

The Illini begin a two-game road trip against Grand Canyon on Friday before facing No. 21 Arizona on Sunday.