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CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Illinois forward Malcolm Hill missed his first four shots from the field Friday, mirroring his teams slow start in the season opener against Southeast Missouri State.But the senior was pulling down rebounds, and the shots started falling late in the first half.Hill finished with 21 points and eight rebounds to lead the Illini past Southeast Missouri 81-62.Maverick Morgan added 16 points for Illinois and was 8 of 8 from the field. Michael Finke scored 12 and pulled down seven rebounds, while sixth-year guard Tracy Abrams scored 13 in his return after two-straight seasons out with injuries.Southeast Missouri opened hot, riding Antonius Clevelands eight early points for a 25-18 lead and keeping a sparse opening-night crowd quiet.But the Illini turned their defense up and started finding the basket, going on a 12-0 run to turn that seven-point deficit into a 30-25 lead on a 3-pointer from the left corner from guard Tracy Abrams.Illinois coach John Groce was happy his team survived the early charge, something he credited to having a team heavy on seniors.When our shots werent going in early, I thought our defense was kind of porous early, yet we kind of just kept hanging in there, Groce said.Illinois finished the night 58.6 percent from the field, including 19-22 from 2-pount range.The key to turning on Illinois defense was communication, Abrams said.We talked a little bit more down the stretch, we took on the challenge even more. We started talking more.Southeast Missouri coach Rick Ray liked his teams fast start. But the Redhawks did not respond on defense when Illinois started finding the basket, he said.I told our guys I have every confidence well be able to score the ball, a hoarse Ray said. The question is defense and rebounds.Milos Vranes led Southeast Missouri with 12 points. Cleveland finished with 10.BIG PICTURESoutheast Missouri: The Redhawks are coming off a 5-24 season and struggled in their only exhibition game, trailing by six at the half against Division II Missouri S&T before pulling out an 84-77 win. After taking the early lead on Friday, the Redhawks were mostly outmanned against a team with far bigger players. One of their biggest problems was on the boards. The Illini outrebounded Southeast Missouri 37-22.Illinois: One of Illinois most pressing early questions will be who emerges as the primary point guards. The team lacked a true point guard at times last season, one of the key problems in a 15-19 season. Abrams started Friday and senior Jaylon Tate backed him up but also shared the court at time, playing 25 minutes and scoring just two points but dishing out six assists. Talented freshman TeJon Lucas didnt play until 17 seconds were left in the game. Abrams night was encouraging.Groce said he liked the combination of Abrams and Tate on the floor together against a team that specializes in forcing turnovers.Those guys know each other like the back of their hands. I thought they had some good chemistry, he said.WELCOME BACKAbrams hadnt played a regular-season game in two full seasons before Friday. He missed all of 2014-15 with a torn Achilles tendon and all of last season with an anterior cruciate ligament tear. He was a welcome sight Friday, scoring the first points for the Illini on a 3-pointer less than two minutes into the game. He played 27 minutes.BIG MENIllinois is deep in big men, with Morgan and Michael Finke -- both 6-foot-10 -- and the 6-foot-11 Mike Thorne Jr. Morgan and Finke spent much of the night on the floor together. Between them the three scored 30 and had 15 rebounds.UP NEXTSoutheast Missouris home opener will be Sunday against Hannibal-LaGrange, an NAIA school in Hannibal, Missouri.Illinois hosts Northern Kentucky Sunday in the second game of a five-game homestand.---More AP college basketball: http://collegebasketball.ap.orgFollow David Mercer on Twitter: (at)davidmercerAP China Jerseys . The 17-year-old native of Marystown, N.L., pulled out of Skate Canada International last month in Saint John, N.B., with the same problem. Discount Jerseys . That left plenty of energy for pitching books and swatting away free agency questions. Anthony had 24 points and nine rebounds, and the Knicks avenged an embarrassing home loss with a rout of their own, beating the Boston Celtics 114-88 on Wednesday night for their third straight victory. http://www.cheapjerseysfreeshipping.info/ . 1, meaning problems for the doping controls at both major international sports events next year. The World Anti-Doping Agency provisionally suspended the Moscow Antidoping Center on Sunday, saying its operations must improve or a six-month ban on the facilitys accreditation will be imposed. Cheap Jerseys From China .Y. - Rob Manfred was promoted Monday to Major League Baseballs chief operating officer, which may make him a candidate to succeed Bud Selig as commissioner. Cheap Nike NFL Jerseys .Y. - New Orleans forward Anthony Davis was chosen Friday to replace the injured Kobe Bryant in the NBA All-Star game that will be played in his home city.Heurelho Gomes chose to highlight his teams performance rather than his own after his double penalty save all-but secured Watfords status in the Premier League. The Hornets claimed a vital 1-0 victory, thanks to Ben Watsons first-half strike, to move beyond the 40-point mark in the league.The result, however, owed much to Gomes contribution as he single-handedly thwarted two Saido Berahino penalties in the second half. Gomes became the first goalkeeper in Premier League history to save two penalties in two separate games, having denied Sunderland striker Darren Bent twice from the spot while playing for Tottenham in 2010.It was a great feeling, we needed this, Gomes told Sky Sports. It was a huge win, we knew before that Sunderland were winning. Watfords Heurelho Gomes is congratulated by team-mates after saving a second Saido Berahino penalty Asked to describe his saves, Gomes added: I needed to wait for the ball, the first one I moved to my left to give him possibility to kick to my right.The second one I just waited for him to decide and I pushed as hard as I could and I saved it. Now we need to keep going. We need to be prepared to go back to work and work hard as I always tried to do.The victory moved Quique Sanchez Flores side above West Brom in the Premier League and virtually ensured top-flight football for another season at Vicarage Road. Tony Pulis says he cant believe West Brom lost 1-0 at home to Watford It means this current Watford side are on course to become the first to avoid relegation to the Championship the season following promotion.ddddddddddddAnd Gomes was quick to highlight the collective effort from everyone associated with Watford after a successful season.The boys deserve everything too, they work so hard and this is a very difficult place to come, he said. We knew that before the game we had to be very strong to defend our advantage. Watfords Ben Watson celebrates scoring the opening goal against West Brom The boys, the club and the fans deserve credit (for reaching the 40-point mark). The fans push us all the way from last season until now.This club has a massive possibility to grow in the Premier League and stay up, its not mathematically yet but we have a huge possibility to stay up and build a stronger squad for next season.Our focus is always on our game and its been like that from the beginning of the season. We have never been in a dangerous situation and we deserve the place we have now. Also See: Gomes heroics thwart Albion Watford video Watford fixtures Watford stats ' ' '