Will Riley Shines with 31 Points in Illinois Debut Victory

Freshman forward Will Riley sets a scoring record as Illinois defeats Eastern Illinois 112-67 in the season opener.

Will Riley, a highly touted freshman from Canada, scored 31 points in his college debut, the most by an Illinois freshman in their first game.
Riley's performance included 10 of 13 shooting from the field, 5 of 6 from three-point range, and 7 rebounds.
Sophomore guard Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn added a career-high 21 points, contributing significantly to the Illini's offensive dominance.
Illinois outrebounded Eastern Illinois 58-28, maintaining control throughout the game and marking their ninth consecutive season-opening win.
The Illini, ranked just outside the AP Top 25, achieved their highest scoring output since the 2020-21 season.