Illinois hammers Tennessee-Martin

~ The Illini scored the first 17 points in an 84-46 victory, their second win against an OVC team this week.

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- James Augustine scored 19 points and his 11 rebounds made him Illinois' career leader as the sixth-ranked Illini beat Tennessee-Martin 84-46 on Friday night.

Rich McBride scored 21 points, all on 3-pointers, as Illinois (14-0) won its 14th straight game and finished its nonconference schedule undefeated for the second straight season.

The Illini begin Big Ten play at home next Thursday against No. 9 Michigan State.

Augustine passed Efrem Winters with his 854th career rebound with 10:51 to play off a layup attempt by the Skyhawks' Jason Thompson. He then went to the bench for the rest of the rout.

Winters played from 1983 to 1986.

Augustine was just as effective from the field as he was on the glass. He hit eight of nine shots, made three free throws and added two assists and a steal.

The double-double was Augustine's fourth of the season and 21st of his career.

Tennessee-Martin (5-5) was outclassed from the opening tip. McBride hit his first 3 just 33 seconds into the game and Illinois was up 17-0 before Bubba Tolliver finally put the Skyhawks in the scorebook with a free throw with 14 minutes, 45 seconds left in the half.

Tennessee-Martin didn't make its first field goal until Justin Flatt hit a 3-pointer with 9:14 to go in the half.

Augustine had a dunk and layup to start another 10-0 run. Tennessee-Martin trailed 47-15 at halftime after going 4-of-22 from the field.

McBride was seven of 10 from 3-point range, a career high, as Illinois won its 29th straight at home.

Tennessee-Martin did mount a 10-0 run at the start of the second half, but it was stopped by Dee Brown's 3-pointer and the Illini responded with their own 17-5 outburst.

Brown, Illinois' leading scorer at 14.9 points per game, finished with five but he had 10 assists and two steals before departing with Augustine midway through the second half.

Jared Newson had 13 points and eight rebounds, and Thompson added 11 points for Tennessee-Martin, which shot 31 percent and committed 23 turnovers.