Solo Ball scored 15 points to lead a balanced attack as No. 5 UConn held on for a 74-61 nonconference victory over No. 13 Illinois on Friday in New York.

Malachi Smith contributed 14 points and nine assists off the bench while Alex Karaban added 12 points for the Huskies (6-1), who limited the Fighting Illini to 31.7% shooting and led by 21 midway through the second half.

Five-star UConn freshman forward Braylon Mullins, recovered from an ankle injury, made his collegiate debut and contributed two points in 10 minutes.

Kylan Boswell scored a game-high 25 points to pace Illinois (6-2), which missed 15 consecutive field-goal attempts and 13 straight 3-point tries during an extended stretch bridging the halves. Tomislav Ivisic contributed 11 points and 10 rebounds.

No. 1 Purdue 109, Easte

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