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.

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.

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

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