When the Delaware State Hornets arrived in Champaign on Nov. 19, they knew a big task lay ahead. The Hornets, who tied for second in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference last season and whose home court holds just 2,000 fans, knew No. 6 Illinois would have no trouble keeping them at bay.

But the Hornets fought anyway, exploiting certain key Illini weaknesses.

“We shot the ball well but we really didn’t guard that well,” said junior guard Dee Brown.

Despite a slow start, Illinois pulled off an impressive second half to defeat Delaware State 87-67 at Assembly Hall. The game was both teams’ regular season opener.

Delaware State stayed in the game throughout most of the first half, and the two teams traded the lead back and forth through the first 12 minutes. But then senior forward Roger Powell Jr. got a dunk, which Brown followed up with a pair of free throws and a three-pointer. Junior guard Deron Williams topped it off with a bucket, giving Illinois a 34-28 lead. By the end of the half, the Illini were up 15 points.

Illinois came out strong in the second half, making 75 percent of its layups and two-thirds of its three pointers. But while the offense shone throughout the game, the defense noticeably needed work.

“When you look at our roster, we don’t need offense right now, we need defense,” Brown said. “We know we’re capable of defending. When the time comes, we’re going to defend, we’re going to lock up. Even though we didn’t play great defense today, we’re going to continue till the season’s over to work on defense 90 percent of our practices.”

Illinois 91, Florida A&M; 60

Two days after topping Delaware State, the Illini moved to 2-0 on the season, downing Florida A&M; 91-60 Nov. 21.

“It’s wonderful,” junior guard Dee Brown said of playing two games in three days. “I like to play basketball. Practice is practice; practice is to polish your skills, but games are everything.”

With Brown scoring 20 points on 8-for-8 shooting and seniors Roger Powell Jr. and Luther Head adding 15 each, the Illini had no trouble trouncing the Rattlers.

After the Illini secured a 58-29 lead at halftime, Florida A&M; attempted to come back with a 15-4 run that brought them within 16 points of the Illini, but proved unsuccessful when Illinois answered with a 31-7 stretch in the next eight minutes.

“Whenever you see Illinois on your schedule or any big time university, you’re going to get up for the game,” Brown said before the matchup. “They’re just happy to be here and we just have to come out with enough energy to play good basketball.”

Illinois 85, Oakland 54

Senior guard Luther Head led Illinois in a pre-Thanksgiving beating of Oakland, as the Illini moved to 3-0 this season.

Head had 22 points – including six three-pointers – as well as nine assists and two steals as Oakland shut down junior guard Dee Brown, who led the Illini in their first two games.

Head did not carry the Illini alone, though, as junior guard Deron Williams scored 17 points and junior forward James Augustine nabbed 11 rebounds.