Nicole Anderson Office Administrator | University of Illinois Division of Intercollegiate Athletics Website
Nicole Anderson Office Administrator | University of Illinois Division of Intercollegiate Athletics Website
Illinois forward Will Riley has been named the Big Ten Freshman of the Week, as announced by the conference office on Monday. Riley's performance last week was instrumental in Illinois' games, where he averaged 20 points and 3.5 rebounds per game, with a shooting percentage of 52% from the field and 45.5% from three-point range.
In a notable game against Ohio State, Riley scored a team-high of 24 points. He made seven out of nine shots and achieved a career-high of nine free throws out of twelve attempts, along with three rebounds. His contribution was significant in the second half, scoring 20 out of his total 24 points to help Illinois overcome an 11-point deficit and secure a comeback win against the Buckeyes.
Earlier in the week at Nebraska, Riley contributed with 16 points and four rebounds while making a game-high four three-pointers. During the second-half comeback in Lincoln, he scored 13 consecutive points for Illinois, which was crucial in pushing the game into overtime.
This accolade marks Riley's second time being named Big Ten Freshman of the Week this season. He previously received this recognition following his debut week when he set an Illini freshman debut scoring record with 31 points against Eastern Illinois.
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