Leron Black’s 18 Helps Illini Men Beat VCU 64-46
Leron Black (12) in this file photo from Nov. 25, 2016. Black scored 18 points in Saturday's game against VCU. AP Photo/Andres Kudacki
MIAMI (AP) — Sophomore Leron Black tied a career-high with 18 points and Illinois held Virginia Commonwealth to 30-percent shooting to win 64-46 Saturday in the HoopHall Miami Invitational.
Malcolm Hill added 16 points, five assists and two steals, and Jalen Coleman-Lands had 12 points for Illinois (6-3).
VCU (6-2), which was off to its best start since 1993, had a three-game winning streak snapped.
Black went 6 for 13, had eight rebounds and was chosen the game's most valuable player. The Rams shot a season-worst 16 for 53, including 2 for 18 (11 percent) from 3-point range.
JeQuan Lewis, averaging a team-high 15.7 points, was held to three points. Mo Alie-Cox led the Rams with 10 points. They came in shooting 50 percent this season and had scored at least 63 points in every game.
The Illini missed 10 of their first 11 shots while falling behind 11-4. A 9-0 run put them ahead 22-14, and they led the rest of the way.
Saturday's win was the second in a row for the Illini, after they lost three straight games the previous week.
Illinois returns home for a game on Tuesday night against IUPUI at 7:00pm.