CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Illinois needed a career-high performance from Malcolm Hill to outlast Northern Kentucky 79-64 on Sunday night.The senior scored a career-high 40 points and brought down 12 rebounds to help Illinois (2-0) fight through a first half where the Illini trailed 33-31 at halftime and struggled to hold off the Norse off until the end.It was something I was working on over the summer, Hill said. This is just one of the games that showed a lot of the hard work and dedication that Ive put into my 3-point shot.The Illini shot 44 percent from the field but were 20-30 from the free-throw line.Michael Finke also scored in double figures, adding 10 points and 11 rebounds for the Illini.Illinois coach John Groce credited his veteran team for the polite conversation at halftime to change the teams energy and focus.Our seniors responded big time in the second half, he said. I thought we came out with a lot more aggressiveness, a lot more attacking mentality.Lavone Holland II led Northern Kentucky (1-1) with 13 points, which kept the Norse in the game until the final eight minutes.The Norse held a 43-32 rebound advantage despite Northern Kentuckys tallest players being 6-foot-7.Northern Kentucky was sloppy with the ball for most of the game, committing 18 turnovers that led to 21 Illinois points.Our youth showed when things went bad and I thought their veteran leadership showed with their run, Northern Kentucky coach John Brannen said.BIG PICTUREIllinois: The Illini will have a lot to work on despite the win. They will have a few games to work out the kinks before tougher opponents appear on the schedule.Northern Kentucky: The Norse can hold their heads up despite the loss. Northern Kentucky competed well throughout the game against a Big Ten opponent.TURNING POINTIllinois and Northern Kentucky exchanged baskets and the lead for much of the start of the second half until Hill took over. He scored 29 points in the half and helped put the game away.HIGHLIGHT REELTracy Abrams got the State Farm Center crowd excited when he came from behind to block a Drew McDonald fast break layup.UP NEXTIllinois will play its third game in five nights when the Illini host McKendree on Tuesday night.Northern Kentucky will try to rebound after its first loss of the season on Friday when the Norse play Austin Peay in the Tarkett Sports Classic in Oxford, Ohio.---More AP college basketball: http://collegebasketball.ap.org Morten Andersen Jersey . It was the kind of score that might make everyone else wonder which course he was playing. Except that Graeme McDowell saw the whole thing. Crouched behind the 10th green at Sheshan International, McDowell looked over at the powerful American and said, "Ive probably seen 18 of the best drives Ive seen all year in the last two days. Wil Lutz Womens Jersey . Breaking three of his own world records on his way to winning in Paris, Chan silenced the critics and left the audiences standing in appreciation and awe. http://www.authenticsaintssportsonline.com/saints-taysom-hill-gold-jersey/ . Now, with Game 6 set for Fenway Park and an 8:07 p.m. ET first pitch, the Detroit Tigers face the unenviable task of having to beat the Boston Red Sox twice, on the road, to advance to the World Series. Michael Thomas Youth Jersey . -- About a third of the way through the regular season, the Washington Wizards are at . Chauncey Gardner-Johnson Jersey . Brett Kulak and Jackson Houck of the Vancouver Giants were each charged with assault causing bodily harm on Aug. 18, according to the B.C. court services. THE CONTENDERS TO REPLACE TONY WALMSLEY AT CENTRAL COASTMIKE MULVEYThe man who steered Brisbane Roar to victory in the 2014 A-League grand final is actually on the lookout for a new job, having been rested as coach of his Malaysian side, Terengganu FA, last month. Before that he was with Sabah FA, Melbourne Victorys W-League side and Gold Coast United, where he worked wonders with their youth team.ARTHUR PAPASConsidered one of the most talented young coaches coming through the domestic ranks, Papas has served a series of quality apprenticeships in the national underage system, NPL Victoria and even India, where he was assistant to Brazilian great Zico. Green Gullys win over the Mariners could get him over the line.MARK RUDANUndoubtably one of the top Australian coaches outside of the A-League, having just steered Sydney United 58 to a seconnd premiership title in NPL NSW.dddddddddddd However, Rudan is known to be comfortable at the helm of his boyhood club and with life as a Fox Sports pundit, so he will take some convincing.DAMIEN MORIThe former Socceroos and NSL scoring machine has been either player-coach or coach of Adelaide City for the better part of the last 10 years. Two years ago, Moris City beat Western Sydney Wanderers in the FFA Cup, while this year theyll finish top of NPL SA. Deserves a chance somewhere.PAUL OKONOkon has been coach of the Young Socceroos, as well as an assistant to the Olyroos, since 2012. Prior to that he spent a season as Miron Bleibergs offsider at Gold Coast United. A switch back to club-land could appeal to him. ' ' '