CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Malcolm Hill made sure Illinois didnt step off the gas pedal Friday night so that the Illini could took care of business against Detroit Mercy, 89-69.The senior, who scored 25 points, led his team to a quick start after the intermission, when his team was up 39-30 and it seemed like the Titans would close the gap even more.Im always in an aggressive attack more, but this was one of those games where I needed to start strong in the second half, Hill said.Illinois (4-0) continued its strong start to the season in the opening game of the NIT Season Tip-Off tournament.The Illini had little trouble scoring, shooting 27of 52 from the field and 8 of 19 from 3-point range. Friday marked the second straight game the Illini had difficulty shooting from the free throw line however, finishing 27of 38.Tracy Abrams continued to have a strong return to basketball, scoring 15 points and finishing with four rebounds, including 2 of 3 from 3-point range.Groce knows the importance a balanced offense can have on his team.If you can have a balance of paint touches with that outside shooting, it puts opponents in dilemmas, Groce said.Detroit Mercy (1-2) had trouble keeping up with Illinois fast offensive pace from the start of the game. The Titans never led.Josh McFolley and Jaleel Hogan both led the way with 16 points for a team that finished shooting 43 percent from the field and 24 percent from beyond the arc.The Titans fell behind in most categories against the Illini, but Detroit Mercy head coach Bacari Alexander felt Illinois won the game down in the post, where the Illini won the rebound battle 39-29.They took advantage of those opportunities (in the post), Alexander said. (But) I like the direction this team is going in.BIG PICTUREIllinois: The Illini have played as they should against the type of opponents theyve faced so far this year. The team has one game left against relatively easy competition before facing No. 19 West Virginia at the Barclays Center in New York.Detroit Mercy: Although the game was never really close after the first few minutes, the Titans found some scoring opportunities and will need to continue to do that in the rest of the tournament.ROLE PLAYERGroce thought bench player D.J. Williams had his best overall performance of the year. The sophomore wing scored six points.LETDOWNAfter a strong start to the season, center Maverick Morgan had his worst night of the season, finishing with six points and zero rebounds and fouling out with more than five minutes left in the game.UP NEXTIllinois will continue play in the NIT Season Tip-Off tournament when it hosts Winthrop in Champaign on Monday.Detroit Mercy will try to bounce back Monday when it travels to Florida State to play its second game in the NIT Season Tip-Off.---More AP college basketball: http://collegebasketball.ap.org Vans Schuhe Schweiz . "I wrote 36 on my sheet at the beginning of the game," the Cincinnati coach said, referring the yard line the ball would need to be snapped from. Old Skool Schuhe Schweiz . The All-Pro lineman got the leg bent under him while trying to make a tackle during the first half of a 22-20 overtime loss at Miami on Thursday night. The medical staff initially thought hed torn the ligament, and the test a day later in Cincinnati confirmed it. http://www.oldskoolonline.ch/ .Y. -- Injured Buffalo Sabres forward Marcus Foligno did not practice with the team Monday and head coach Ron Rolston said its unlikely hell play in Wednesdays season opener in Detroit. Discount Vans Old Skool Schweiz .R. Smith realized how easily basketball can be taken from him, and he wasnt going to take his place in the NBA for granted anymore. Vans Old Skool Schweiz Kaufen .C. -- Todd Fiddler scored a hat trick, including the overtime goal, as the Prince George Cougars survived an 8-7 win against the Kamloops Blazers in Western Hockey League play Sunday. BAGSHOT, England -- The Los Angeles Rams have allowed more than 400 total yards twice this season and won both games.Thats why theyre not concerned by any potential challenge posed at Twickenham Stadium in southwest London on Sunday by New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr.He does some great things for their offense, and we definitely have our work cut out for us with him, but were ready for that challenge, strong safety T.J. McDonald said. Were going to go out there and execute the plan.Beckham is expected to play despite missing time at practice this week with a hip injury. Hes listed as probable on the injury report.That injury, sustained in the first half of the Giants 27-23 victory over the Baltimore Ravens, didnt seem to hamper him. He finished with 222 yards on eight catches, including a 75-yard touchdown grab in the third quarter and the deciding 66-yard touchdown reception with 1:24 remaining.Beckham was back in the spotlight for his performance and the antics of his elaborate touchdown celebrations.The Rams know Beckham well, having engaged in a brawl on the Giants sideline during a game in December 2014. The melee involved nearly 20 players after Alec Ogletree hit Beckham out of bounds and drove him into the ground. Three Giants and one Ram were ejected.Youve got to protect yourself at all times, Beckham said Friday when asked if hed be on the lookout for late hits. You dont need stuff like that to happen, like what happened last time.It shouldnt be a big issue. ... I always say: `Stay ready so you dont have to get ready.Players insisted all week the incident is irrelevant, and defensive backs downplayed any desire to get an edge by baiting Beckham.Obviously, Ive seen the (antics) and everything, but thats not really my game, Rams cornerback E.J. Gaines said. I like to keep my own head out there and worry about what I need to do to make some plays for this defense.Los Angeles coach Jeff Fisher praised Beckham, saying he has a chance to go down as one of the all-time best.After surpassing 100 receiving yards in a game eight times last year, hes done that once this season -- against the Washington Redskins in Week 3 -- and didnt score a touchdown until the Giants loss to the Green Bay Packers in Week 5.The Rams (3-3), who entered the week with the 16th-ranked pass defense at 246.2 yards per game, have allowed three players to gain more than 100 receiving yards this season. Only the Detroit Lions Golden Tate, who had 165 yards and a touchdown last Sunday, emerged with a victory.Los Angeles again will be without cornerback Trumaine Johnson, who has been declared out because of a high ankle sprain that also kept him from facing Detroit. Gaines and Troy Hill, who last week became the fourth starting tandem the Rams used this season, figure to continue in those roles.One of those former starters, Coty Sensabaugh, was released on Oct. 8 and later picked up by the Giants.Theyve all grown because we have a next-man-up philosophy, defensive coordinator Gregg Willams said. We have to be able to step up and do yoour job in this league.ddddddddddddhe Giants (3-3) signed kicker Robbie Gould after Josh Brown was not allowed to travel with the team to London on Thursday. The NFL is reopening its investigation into a 2015 domestic abuse complaint made by Browns former wife after police released journal entries and emails in which the place-kicker admitted repeatedly verbally and physically abusing her.This week should be the return of defensive end Robert Quinn, who missed the last two games with what he said was a freak shoulder injury. Hes considered questionable.Quinn, who has averaged nearly a sack a game over the past four seasons but has just two in four games, could help the defense put more pressure on Giants quarterback Eli Manning. If Manning has less time to throw, he has less time to get the ball to Beckham and other wide receivers, which could lighten the burden on the Rams secondary.I think guys are just ready to get our blood back going ... because were definitely a little disappointed about our last couple performances, Quinn said. I think guys are just a little antsy and, like I said, ready to prove that were a lot better than we showed these last two weeks.DUKES HOME: The Giants have made the Duke of Northumberlands ancestral home their base of operations for their three-day stay in London. The 200-acre (80-hectare) Syon Park in suburban southwest London features extensive gardens along the banks of the Thames, a castle-style residence with statue-lined halls and gilded ceilings, a spa hotel, a trout fishery and, until Sunday, a makeshift football field. ... Several Giants showed they know little about London, mostly failing in a team video to identify Big Ben, the London Eye, Abbey Road and Tower Bridge. All managed to recognize Twickenham Stadium as the place theyre playing -- except Rashad Jennings, who called it Wembley.LAST TIME IN LONDON: The Giants last played here in the first NFL game on Oct. 28, 2007, a 13-10 victory against the winless Miami Dolphins. It wasnt pretty as New York prevailed amid rain, mud, seven fumbles and a chorus of boos. The NFL overseas project survived that wretched start to achieve nearly a decade straight of sold-out successes at Wembley Stadium, the home of English soccer. The game Sunday will be the 16th in London, the second of three this season. Its the first held at Twickenham Stadium, home of Englands rugby team.Game notes DT Michael Brockers (thigh) has also been ruled out, while LG Jamon Brown (hand) and WR Nelson Spruce (calf) are considered doubtful. ... Cornerback Dwayne Gratz is expected to play in his fifth game in London and second this season. Drafted by the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2012, he was cut and claimed off waivers by the Rams on Oct. 11. I havent been the tour guide, he said. I should be. Ive got a lot of experience here.---Online:AP NFL website: http://www.pro32.ap.org and AP NFL coverage on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '