The Associated Press

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - Roger Powell scored 19 points to lead No. 14 Illinois to an easy 85-43 victory over Maryland-Eastern Shore on Thursday.

Luther Head added 16 points for Illinois, which rebounded from Tuesday's loss against Providence.

The Illini (5-2) came out firing, scoring the game's first 16 points, six of them by James Augustine. Powell scored 13 in the first half, which ended with Illinois in front 46-19.

While Illinois was hot early, Eastern Shore (0-2) missed its first 12 shots. The Hawks' first points came on Jason McKinnon's short jumper at 12:53 on their 13th possession.

Illinois pushed the lead to 27 on Dee Brown's layup with 1:55 left in the half.

The Illini shot about 59 percent, while Eastern Shore shot almost 23 percent in the half and had 17 turnovers. Illinois' lead grew as large as 45 points in the second half.

Illinois guard Deron Williams left the game with 18:57 remaining after colliding with an Eastern Shore player near midcourt. Williams, who appeared to be holding his jaw, immediately left for the locker room and later received x-rays at a local hospital.

Illinois has now won 20 in a row at home.

Tee Trotter scored 12 for Eastern Shore, playing its first game in 18 days.

ST. JOE'S: Jameer Nelson passed on the NBA draft last summer to keep making passes for Saint Joseph's and now he owns the school career assist record.

"The opportunity to do something special here was something I had to think about," he said after Tuesday's game against Boston College. "I know how good this team is and it excites me. We're off to a good start, but it's just a start."

The No. 12 Hawks are off to a 6-0 start thanks largely to Nelson, the second-leading vote-getter on the AP's preseason All-America team, and backcourt partner Delonte West.

"We're trying to make that transition from being a good team to a great team," West said.

West leads the Hawks in scoring with 19 points a game with Nelson at 18.5.

Nelson leads the Hawks with 41 assists and 24 steals. He always seems to be aware of his teammates, finding the open man with everything from half-court bounce passes to bullets through traffic. He set Saint Joe's career assist record - he has 584 - Tuesday.