Box Score

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – In his first game in a Colgate uniform, Murphy Burnatowski scored 23 points to lead all scorers, but the Raiders men's basketball team dropped a 75-55 decision to Illinois at Assembly Hall on Friday night.

Colgate (0-1) was led by Burnatowski, who shot 8-of-14 from the floor and had 18 points at the half, which also led all scorers. He poured in 15-straight Colgate points at one point in the opening 20 minutes. He grabbed four rebounds, four steals and two blocks as well. Pat Moore added seven points and Mitch Rolls recorded five points, four assists and two boards.

Illinois (1-0) got 20 points from Brandon Paul, who was on the top-50 list for the John Wooden Award, which is given to the top college basketball player in the country. He also grabbed eight boards and had five assists. Tracy Adams netted 13 points, including a few 3-pointers. The Fighting Illini put up 30 shots from beyond the arc and hit 13 of them to shoot 43 percent from downtown.

“For us to come to a place like this with the pedigree, it was a great experience for us,” said head coach Matt Langel. “I was very proud of our guys. I thought we played hard and competed. We tried to stick to the game plan, but anytime you play a game like this, you can't turn the ball over and you can't give up second chance points.”

Illinois came out on fire from the beyond the arc with four-straight 3-pointers to jump out to a 12-5 advantage. With the fourth 3-pointer, the crowd erupted after being silent for the first 10 points of the game to start the season. The Raiders answered with a little run of their own, led by Burnatowski, who poured in seven points to help Colgate tie the game at 14-14 with 10:43 remaining in the first half.

The Fighting Illini then went on a 12-0 run to open up a 29-14 advantage and were aided by three trays and seven-straight points by Paul. Burnatowski ended the scoring drought for the Raiders with a put back to make it 29-16 with four minutes left in the half. He tacked on a pair of 3-pointers as well to finish the half with 18 points. Illinois, however, shot 55-percent from three in the first half and took a 43-25 lead into the locker room.

“We have been waiting for this performance from Burnatowski for a long time,” said Langel. “He transferred when I first got the job and was looking for a good education. He did this often in practice last season and he adds another dimension that we will need and if he can get 23 on 14 shots, I will feel better.”

In the second half, Illinois was able to increase its lead to 20 points and never allowed the Raiders to get closer than 17 with the Fighting Illini reaching its largest at 59-34 midway through the final half. They were able earn the 75-55 win. Rolls and Moore led the Raiders in the second half with five points apiece, while Luke Roh and Damon Sherman-Newsome added four.

The Raiders shot 39 percent from the floor, including 42 percent in the second half. Illinois cooled off in the final 20 minutes to shot 39 percent as well. The Fighting Illini had 10 3-pointers at the half and hit just three in the second.

The EA Sports Maui Invitational Opening Games continues for the Raiders on Sunday afternoon at Marquette for a 4:30 p.m. CT.