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In case you missed it (which may be likely thanks to BTN Plus), Malcolm Hill did some pretty good basketballing at the State Farm Center on Sunday night. The senior scored a career-high 40 points and 12 rebounds as the Illinois Fighting Illini (2-0) defeated the Northern Kentucky Norse by a final score of 79-64.
With his latest performance, Hill became just the seventh Illini to score 40+ points in a single game, and he was the first to do so since Brandon Paul scored 43 against Ohio State on January 10, 2012. Hill’s previous career mark was a 39-point effort in a double-overtime game against Penn State last season.
Michael Finke was the only other member of the Orange and Blue to reach double-figures, as he tallied the first double-double of his career with 11 points and 10 rebounds. The entire box score is viewable right here.
Illinois’ next game is against McKendree (D-II) on Tuesday night in Champaign. The opening tip is scheduled for 8:00pm CT, and the contest will be televised on the Big Ten Network.