SB Nation Chicago - Coppin State Vs. Illinois: Fighting Illini Try To Stay Perfecthttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48877/chicago-fave.png2011-12-11T20:18:16-06:00http://chicago.sbnation.com/rss/stream/23933152011-12-11T20:18:16-06:002011-12-11T20:18:16-06:00Illinois Vs. Coppin State Score Update: Illini Lead 38-30 At The Half
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<p>The Fighting Illini are trying to improve to 10-0 with a win against Coppin State on Sunday night, and so far they're on track to do just that, as they hold a 38-30 lead at halftime. In building that lead, Illinois forced nine turnovers and shot 55.2% from the field, including 38.5% (5-13) from three-point range.</p>
<p>Coppin State hit just 11 of 26 shots overall, but they were 6-12 from beyond the arc and hold a slight edge in rebounding over the Illini, which has helped them stay within striking distance.</p>
<p>Meyers Leonard scored eight points and grabbed four rebounds for Illinois in the first half, while <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/123388/tony-gallo">Tony Gallo</a> led the way for Coppin State with eight points.</p>
<p><b style="outline-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,'Liberation Sans',FreeSans,sans-serif; line-height: 18px; padding: 0px; margin: 0px;"><i style="outline-width: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: transparent; padding: 0px; margin: 0px;">For more coverage of the Fighting Illini, be sure to explore <a href="http://www.hailtotheorange.com/" style="outline-width: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #03406b; padding: 0px; margin: 0px;">Hail to the Orange</a>. Stay tuned to <a href="http://chicago.sbnation.com/" style="outline-width: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #03406b; padding: 0px; margin: 0px;">SB Nation Chicago</a> for live, in-game scores and updates. For more from around college hoops, visit <a href="http://sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball" style="outline-width: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #03406b; padding: 0px; margin: 0px;">SB Nation's NCAA basketball news hub</a></i><i style="outline-width: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: transparent; padding: 0px; margin: 0px;">.</i></b></p>
https://chicago.sbnation.com/illinois-fighting-illini/2011/12/11/2629277/illinois-vs-coppin-state-score-update-illini-lead-38-30-at-the-halfSteven Muma2011-12-11T14:06:34-06:002011-12-11T14:06:34-06:00Coppin State Vs. Illinois Preview: Fighting Illini Looking To Stay Unbeaten
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<p>The Illinois Fighting Illini hope to stay unbeaten as they face Coppin State on Sunday.</p> <p>The <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/teams/illinois-fighting-illini" class="sbn-auto-link">Illinois Fighting Illini</a> are currently 9-0 on the season, with those victories pushing them up to No. 24 in the national polls. On Sunday night, they're hosting the Coppin State Eagles at home, a game that likely won't be too challenging considering that Coppin State hasn't won a road game all season long.</p>
<p>Illinois, off to its best start since beginning the 2005-2006 season at 15-0, has actually struggled against some pretty lackluster opponents thus far. The Fighting Illini were impressive in an 82-75 victory over then-No. 18 Gonzaga, but they needed a late rally to beat a weak St. Bonaventure team in a game during which they shot just 32 percent from the field. That pitiful shooting performance was actually the school's worst in a non-conference game since 1996.</p>
<p>But regardless of those struggles, Illinois is still 9-0 on the year, and they should be able to get to 10-0 by beating a struggling Coppin State team on Sunday night. The Eagles are just 3-4 on the year, but all four losses came during a brutal road trip featuring games against Oklahoma, Purdue and then-No. 4 Connecticut. For Illinois, this is a final easy game before a rough stretch that includes games against UNLV, currently 9-2 on the year with a victory over then-No. 1 North Carolina, and No. 10 Missouri. </p>
<p><b style="outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'Liberation Sans', FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;"><i style="outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">For more coverage of the Fighting Illini, be sure to explore <a href="http://www.hailtotheorange.com/" style="outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: #03406b; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">Hail to the Orange</a>. Stay tuned to <a href="http://chicago.sbnation.com/" style="outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: #03406b; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">SB Nation Chicago</a> for live, in-game scores and updates. For more from around college hoops, visit <a href="http://sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball" style="outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: #03406b; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">SB Nation's NCAA basketball news hub</a></i><i style="outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">.</i></b></p>
https://chicago.sbnation.com/illinois-fighting-illini/2011/12/11/2628459/coppin-state-vs-illinois-preview-basketball-2011Satchel Price