Andres Feliz scored 19 points and Kipper Nichols added 12 as Illinois held on to beat UNLV 77-74 on Saturday to end a three-game skid. Illinois (3-7) saw a 14-point lead evaporate late in the game, but iced the win when big man Giorgi Bezhanishvili hit two free throws with 27 seconds left. The 6-foot-9 Bezhanishvili, who finished with nine points, also hit a 3-pointer in the first half. UNLV (4-4) was led by Joel Ntambwe’s 18 points. Cheikh Mbacke Diong scored 13 points and grabbed a game-high 13 rebounds for the Rebels. Illinois held UNLV to 34 percent shooting from the field (23 of 68), while shooting 47 percent (28 of 59). The Illini led 40-34 at the half.
