Cruz Davis scored 20 points and Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn added 15 to help No. 16 Texas Tech record an 84-78 victory over No. 3 Illinois on Tuesday night at Lubbock, Texas.
Donovan Atwell registered 13 points and five steals and Damarion Dennis added 10 points for the Red Raiders, who never trailed.
Jamichael Stillwell contributed 11 points and 13 rebounds in 26 minutes off the bench in his season debut for Texas Tech (3-0). Stillwell was granted a temporary restraining order making him eligible to play by a Lubbock judge. He is seeking a fifth season of eligibility.
Quentin Coleman scored 19 points and Andrej Stojakovic added 18 for the Fighting Illini (2-1). Tomislav Ivisic added 14 points and Stefan Vaaks had 10.
The Fighting Illini shot 50.0% from the field (30 of 60) and made 10 of 34 from 3-point range (29.4%).
Texas Tech connected on 40.0% of its attempts (26 of 65), including 9 of 27 from behind the arc (33.3%). The Red Raiders held a 43-32 rebounding advantage.
Illinois trailed by 22 late in the first half but moved within 65-64 with 5:37 remaining after consecutive baskets by Stojakovic.
Dennis then drained a trey to give Texas Tech a four-point lead before Stojakovic made two free throws. The Red Raiders then collected three offensive rebounds on their next possession and Atwell made the fourth shot pay off, a 3-pointer to give Texas Tech a 71-66 edge with 4:01 left in the game.
A short time later, Atwell made two free throws and Davis hit a jumper as the Red Raiders led 75-67 with 2:17 left.
Illinois was within 80-76 on Coleman’s 3-pointer with 33.5 seconds remaining. But Atwell and Darrion Williams each made two free throws to push the margin to eight and Texas Tech closed it out.
Illinois trailed 49-29 at halftime but whittled away at the deficit to cut it in half at 58-48 on a jumper by Zavier Zens with 12:26 left in the game.
Coleman buried two treys in 52 seconds to pull the Illini within 61-54 with 10:52 remaining. A layup by Vaaks cut the deficit to three with 8:11 left.
Davis and Gibbs-Lawhorn scored 13 points apiece as Texas Tech led 49-29 at the break.
The Red Raiders used a 21-3 burst, capped by Gibbs-Lawhorn sinking a 3-pointer, to give the Red Raiders a 22-point advantage with 64 seconds left in the half.