Despite 29 points and a second-half rally from Malcolm Hill, Illinois lost to Central Florida 68 to 58 Wednesday night in NIT quarterfinal action at CFE Arena in Orlando.

The UCF Knights advance to the final four of the NIT, and will play TCF next week.

Interim Head Coach Jamall Walker picked up a victory in the Illini's NIT opener, 82-57 over Valparaiso at State Farm Center Tuesday night.  Malcolm Hill led the Illini with 25 points. Leron Black added a double-double with 13 points and 12 rebounds, as the Illini advance to the second round to face the winner of Boise State and Utah, who play later Tuesday evening.

The Fighting Illini shot 32.3 percent from the field, including just 7 of 24 from beyond the arc.  

The Fighting Illini begin play in the NIT Tuesday evening, with a game against Alabama in Tuscaloosa, while the ISU Redbirds hosts Wisconsin-Green Bay Wednesday evening in NIT play.

In what may have been Illinois' worst game of the season, they managed to shoot only 37.3 percent.  Malcolm Hill led the team with 13 points.  The Illini now await word of a possible NIT bid on Sunday.