Illinois beat Valparaiso, 82-57 Tuesday night in round one of the NIT tournament in Champaign. Illinois improves to 19-and-14 while the Valpo Crusaders end the season at 24-and-9.
Malcolm Hill led all scorers with 25 points.
Leron Black added a double-double -- 13 points, 12 rebounds.
Tracy Abrams had 9 points and 8 rebounds.
Illini hoops report:
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*Illinois will host Boise State in the second round of the NIT. Boise State defeated Utah, 73-68 Tuesday night.
>>Malcolm Hill's 25 points put him over 1,800 points for his career (1804). He is the 4th Illini player all-time to score 1800 points -- (1) Deon Thomas, (2) Kiwane Garris, (3) Dee Brown. Brown had 1812 points in his career at the University of Illinois.
