CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Malcolm Hill made sure Illinois didnt blow another double-digit lead on Tuesday night in an 88-74 win over North Carolina State in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge.The senior scored 22 points to lead an Illini team that bounced back following a 0-3 Thanksgiving week.When Illinois showed signs of faltering like it had in the past, Hill and other role players like Tracy Abrams (17 points) helped secure the win.Really proud of the way the guys responded, Illinois coach John Groce said. We ratcheted it up to another level (in the second half).Illinois (5-3) shot 30 of 60 from the field for 50 percent to outlast N.C. State in what was a tightly contested game in which neither team had a double-digit lead until the Illini led 67-57 with about eight minutes left.The Wolfpack held a 33-32 edge at the half but Illinois came out firing, shooting 68 percent in the second half and creating large leads that the Wolfpack could not overcome.The Illini bench outscored the Wolfpacks 39-22 and was led by Leron Black, who scored 15 points and brought in eight rebounds.Black has only played the last three games before Tuesday (suspension) and noted the adaptation it takes to understand how each player performs.We just kind of come together each game. We get used to playing with each other, Black said. Were just getting better as a team and getting more chemistry.Torin Dorn scored 17 points to lead N.C. State (5-2), which shot 53 percent from the field.Despite the hot shooting, the Wolfpack committed 19 turnovers, which prevented the offense to consistently produce and resulted in 17 Illinois points.The game was experienced versus inexperienced, N.C. State coach Mark Gottfried said. I thought we played like an inexperienced team.BIG PICTUREIllinois: The Illini got a much-needed win against a respectable ACC opponent after a disastrous Thanksgiving week. Illinois will need to win most if not all of the remaining nonconference games if it wants to prove its a NCAA Tournament team.North Carolina State: Time will tell whether this was a respectable loss. The Wolfpack will have a relatively easy path to the start of conference play.HIGHLIGHT REELMalcolm Hill showed his potential in the NBA with a drive down the lane in the second half that left all the North Carolina State players standing still. When asked about the move, Hill said strength coach Adam Fletcher will probably tell him he shouldve dunked it.HE SAID ITWhen we play like that, we can compete against any team. Tracy Abrams.LET DOWNSenior guard Jaylon Tate started the game but lost his role after a rough start. He was held scoreless and played nine minutes, including sitting out the entire second half.UP NEXTIllinois travels to Miami on Saturday where it will play VCU in the Hoophall Miami Invitational.North Carolina State returns home where it will host Boston University on Saturday.---More AP college basketball: http://collegebasketball.ap.org Cheap Custom T-shirts China . In Europe, top teams seem to be largely happy with their squads after spending nearly $1 billion in the off-season. And although English league clubs are unlikely to splash cash in January, Arsenal and Chelsea could be tempted to strengthen their squads with new strikers. Wholesale Custom Jerseys Free Shipping . The formidable trio of Canadian receivers -- individually known as Chris Getzlaf, Rob Bagg and Andy Fantuz -- will share the field at Mosaic Stadium one more time on Sunday. http://www.customjerseyschina.com/ .ca look back at each of the Top 10 stories of 2013. Today, we look back at Boston Strong - a citys recovery from tragedy. Wholesale Custom Jerseys . The Canadian squad, skipped by Jennifer Jones of Winnipeg, got on the board first with two in the second end, and followed that with two more apiece in the fourth and sixth ends. Cheap Custom Jerseys Store . Robredo, ranked No. 16, bounced back from an upset loss to Leonardo Mayer in the second round of the Royal Guard Open in Chile last week to down Carreno Busta in 1 hour, 25 minutes. On a day filled mostly with qualifying matches, fifth-seeded Marcel Granollers of Spain also entered the second with a 7-5, 3-6, 6-2 win over Aljaz Bedene of Slovenia, while Guido Pella of Argentina defeated Guillermo Garcia-Lopez of Spain 7-6 (6), 6-4 to advance. NEW YORK -- Since losing four straight home games to the Boston Red Sox, the Baltimore Orioles have recovered nicely.The recovery has gone so well that not only are the Orioles solidifying their standing as wild card team, they might get a chance to host the play-in game next week.More performances like Fridays 8-1 victory at rainy Yankee Stadium would help and by the end of Saturday, the Orioles could know if they are hosting the wild card game.Step one is to beat the Yankee on Saturday afternoon and step two is for the Toronto Blue Jays to lose to the Boston Red Sox Saturday night at Fenway Park.The Orioles are in the favorable position because they have won six of their last seven games since Sept. 22. They swept Arizona at home last weekend, took two of three in Toronto and opened the series in New York by getting home runs from Jonathan Schoop, Adam Jones and Mark Trumbo.Those home runs moved the Orioles (88-72) a game ahead of the Blue Jays. Toronto only leads the Tigers by one half-game for the second wild card spot and Baltimore should clinch Saturday, it might not even find out its opponent until Monday.Not much at all until I had no choice because it was right behind the pitchers head every time I looked out there, Baltimore manager Buck Showalter said in his best attempt to deny watching scoreboards. I caught a couple of glimpses, but I dont watch it that much. I really dont. I watch our scoreboard a lot.Since the finale of their series with the Red Sox, the Orioles have hit 12 of their major league-leading 250 home runs and scored 27 runs.Perhaps more importantly is Baltimores pitchers, which has been regarded as a significant weakness, has turned in a 1.38 ERA in those games.On Friday Yovani Gallardo followed 6 2/3 strong innings by Ubaldo Jimenez in Toronto when allowed one run and two hits in six innings On Saturday it will be Wade Mileys turn to keep it rolling.Miley missed the series in TToronto to be with his wife, who gave birth to the couples first child.ddddddddddddHe returned Friday and the Orioles will look to see if he can follow up his best start of the season.A week ago, Miley struck out 11 hitters in 8 2/3 innings against Arizona at Camden Yards.Command of the fastball and setting up the off-speed pitches (was big), Miley said. (Catcher Matt Wieters) did a great job. I mightve shook one time all night long. We just kind of had a plan, and he put down the right fingers.Miley is 0-3 with a 5.77 ERA in six career starts against the Yankees. He had a chance for a win at New York April 10, 2015 when he held a 3-0 lead but Bostons bullpen blew the lead before winning a 19-inning decision.New York will be playing its second game after being eliminated from playoff contention Thursday night. While the Yankees have won four of five, they also have dropped 12 of 19 since a seven-game winning streak Sept. 4-10.Its no fun being in this position, New York manager Joe Girardi said. It isnt. You dont work to be in this position. You work to be in the other.The Yankees also will be hoping rookie Gary Sanchez can conclude the season with a .300 average. Sanchez is batting .298 and has one hit in his last 26 at-bats, marking the first time his average is under .300 since Aug. 9.Masahiro Tanaka likely would have started had the Yankees remained in contention. Tanaka missed his last start with a forearm strain but once the Yankees were eliminated they decided not to pitch him.Hes healthy, Girardi said. He threw a really good bullpen the other day. It just doesnt make sense for us.Instead, Luis Severino will start and try to get his first win a starting pitcher this season. Severino is 3-8 with a 5.75 ERA but as a starting pitcher he is 0-8 with an 8.59 ERA in 10 starts. ' ' '
