CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Malcolm Hill made sure Illinois didnt step off the gas pedal Friday night so that the Illini could took care of business against Detroit Mercy, 89-69.The senior, who scored 25 points, led his team to a quick start after the intermission, when his team was up 39-30 and it seemed like the Titans would close the gap even more.Im always in an aggressive attack more, but this was one of those games where I needed to start strong in the second half, Hill said.Illinois (4-0) continued its strong start to the season in the opening game of the NIT Season Tip-Off tournament.The Illini had little trouble scoring, shooting 27of 52 from the field and 8 of 19 from 3-point range. Friday marked the second straight game the Illini had difficulty shooting from the free throw line however, finishing 27of 38.Tracy Abrams continued to have a strong return to basketball, scoring 15 points and finishing with four rebounds, including 2 of 3 from 3-point range.Groce knows the importance a balanced offense can have on his team.If you can have a balance of paint touches with that outside shooting, it puts opponents in dilemmas, Groce said.Detroit Mercy (1-2) had trouble keeping up with Illinois fast offensive pace from the start of the game. The Titans never led.Josh McFolley and Jaleel Hogan both led the way with 16 points for a team that finished shooting 43 percent from the field and 24 percent from beyond the arc.The Titans fell behind in most categories against the Illini, but Detroit Mercy head coach Bacari Alexander felt Illinois won the game down in the post, where the Illini won the rebound battle 39-29.They took advantage of those opportunities (in the post), Alexander said. (But) I like the direction this team is going in.BIG PICTUREIllinois: The Illini have played as they should against the type of opponents theyve faced so far this year. The team has one game left against relatively easy competition before facing No. 19 West Virginia at the Barclays Center in New York.Detroit Mercy: Although the game was never really close after the first few minutes, the Titans found some scoring opportunities and will need to continue to do that in the rest of the tournament.ROLE PLAYERGroce thought bench player D.J. Williams had his best overall performance of the year. The sophomore wing scored six points.LETDOWNAfter a strong start to the season, center Maverick Morgan had his worst night of the season, finishing with six points and zero rebounds and fouling out with more than five minutes left in the game.UP NEXTIllinois will continue play in the NIT Season Tip-Off tournament when it hosts Winthrop in Champaign on Monday.Detroit Mercy will try to bounce back Monday when it travels to Florida State to play its second game in the NIT Season Tip-Off.---More AP college basketball: http://collegebasketball.ap.org Ecco Shoes Uk Sale . -- Kyrie Irvings last-minute 3-pointer helped seal another victory for Cleveland -- and the Cavaliers longest winning streak since LeBron James left. Ecco Shoes Uk Online Sale . PETERSBURG, Fla. http://www.clearanceeccouk.com/ .Y. -- Canadas Kaillie Humphries and Heather Moyse have another World Cup gold medal after winning the two-women bobsled race on Saturday in Lake Placid, N. Cheap Ecco Shoes Online . -- Claudio Bieler hadnt scored since early September, and not from the run of play since mid-July. Ecco Shoes Online Uk . Wilson hit Schenn from behind during Tuesday nights game in Philadelphia, earning a five-minute major for charging and a game misconduct. He has a phone hearing with the department of player safety, which limits any potential suspension to five or fewer games.Wales and Ireland will play matches in Port Moresby, Townsville and Perth in the 2017 World Cup, organisers have confirmed. The pair ensured a full house of home nations at the tournament jointly hosted by Australia and New Zealand - joining seeds England and Scotland - after completing their European qualifying campaign with wins over Italy and Russia respectively on Saturday.St Helens centre Ben Morris scored two tries as John Kears Wales came from 14-10 down at half-time to triumph 20-14 in Monza, while Mark Astons Ireland ran in 13 tries in a record 70-16 win over Russia in Bray that secured a fourth successive World Cup for the Wolfhounds. They will play each other in the final match in pool C in Perth on November 12 as a curtain-raiser to Englands group game against France, after earlier playing Papua New Guinea and Fiji. Watch NOW TV Watch Sky Sports for just ￡6.99. No contract. World Cup chief executive Andrew Hill said: Id like to congratulate both Ireland and Wales on qualifying for next years Rugby League World Cup.ddddddddddddWith large expat communities in Australia, we know these two teams will receive strong support and win over a legion of new fans during their respective campaigns.The 14th and last place at the World Cup will be filled on Friday when Italy, captained by former Hull KR skipper Terry Campese, take on Russia in the final qualifying play-off at Leigh Sports Village.Wales pool matches: October 28 - Papua New Guinea, Port MoresbyNovember 5 - Fiji, Townsville StadiumNovember 12 - Ireland, Perth Rectangular StadiumIrelands pool matches:October 29 - Italy or Russia, Barlow Park, CairnsNovember 5 - Papua New Guinea, Port MoresbyNovember 12 - Wales, Perth Rectangular Stadium Also See: Ireland reach World Cup Wales qualify Kiwis edge out England Follow us @SkySportsRL ' ' '