No. 10 Illinois 64, Norfolk State 54: Brandon Paul scored 14 points and D.J. Richardson added 11 as the Fighting Illini held off a challenge from the visiting Spartans to remain unbeaten.

Norfolk State trimmed a 10-point deficit to two in the second half. Richardson, who left the game with a shoulder injury in the first half, returned in the second and converted a key driving layup with 1:58 left to give Illinois (11-0) a 56-51 lead and the Spartans couldn’t get any closer.

Rashid Gaston scored 12 points and Pendarvis Williams chipped in with 11 for Norfolk State (6-6), which had its four-game win streak snapped.

The Spartans, who shocked Missouri in the NCAA tournament last season, scored seven of the first nine points and led 24-19 with 5:05 left in the first half. The Illini responded by scoring 13 of the final 18 points – seven by Paul – to take a 32-29 halftime lead.

Illinois started the second half with seven straight points to take its biggest lead at the time, 39-29. Norfolk State answered with a 7-0 run and trailed 52-49 before Richardson made a pair of free throws with 2:59 remaining.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Illinois, averaging a nation-best 10.8 3-pointers coming in, was 6-of-23 from beyond the arc, the same as the Spartans. … Norfolk State had 14 turnovers and took just eight free throws to 27 for the Fighting Illini. … Illinois has won 33 consecutive non-conference games at home during the regular season.