The difference-maker for the Illinois men’s basketball team was the last man off the bench Sunday night.

Junior Rayvonte Rice, who started in the first exhibition game against McKendree, didn’t enter the game until there was 8:27 remaining in the first half. He immediately made his presence known, dishing out two assists on his first two possessions, and finished with 16 points in the 83-67 Illini exhibition win.

Shortly after Rice went in, Illinois extended its lead to 41-17 with 6:15 remaining. But a 1-for-20 shooting slump led to poor defense and a 31-6 Northwood run that allowed the Timberwolves to pull ahead 48-47 with 13:31 left.

“You cannot tie your defense to whether you’re making shots on offense,” head coach John Groce said.

Illinois answered with a pair of Bertrand free throws and never trailed again, largely due to 12 points from Rice in the next four minutes, including back-to-back 3’s to bring the crowd to its feet and extend Illinois’ lead to 65-55 with 8:03 left.

Groce said Rice sat due to a “coach’s decision” and did not elaborate further.

“Whether I start or not, that’s not going to affect my game,” Rice said.

Freshman Kendrick Nunn started in place of Rice and had eight first-half points in 16 minutes. He played just six minutes in the second half, largely because of Rice’s emergence.

Rice wasn’t the only starter on the bench Sunday. Starting point guard Tracy Abrams was out with a hamstring injury, and freshman Jaylon Tate started in his place. Tate had 11 points, four rebounds and three assists.

Rice and Tate were joined in double figures by Mike LaTulip, who scored 14, and Joseph Bertrand and Malcolm Hill, who scored 10 apiece.

Groce was especially impressed with walk-on LaTulip, who played backup point guard behind Tate and shooting guard.

“He was solid. He gave us a little bit of a calming influence there,” Groce said. “He made plays that were there. He didn’t try to press or do anything out of character.”

Every Illini scored at least two points and every Illini except Austin Colbert grabbed at least one rebound.

“We’ve got 11 guys that are available and eligible to put in the game,” Groce said. “We have to have them ready. We have to do it by committee.”

Northwood shot 39.1 percent from beyond the arc and grabbing 17 offensive rebounds, which played a large role in keeping them in the game. The Timberwolves were led by two players who finished with double-doubles, Wes Wilcox and Will Bowles. Wilcox finished with 25 points and 10 rebounds, while Bowles had 16 points and 10 rebounds.

Groce said he scheduled the Timberwolves because he knew their strength and physicality would challenge his team. Illinois narrowly outrebounded the Division-II squad 42-40 and got blocked seven times.

Starting big men Nnanna Egwu and Jon Ekey grabbed eight and nine rebounds, respectively, but struggled to stop Wilcox and Bowles.

The exhibition was Illinois’ last before the season officially begins Friday against Alabama State.

Johnathan can be reached at [email protected] and @jhett93.