CHAMPAIGN—Demetri McCamey returned to the starting lineup for the first time in two games and scored 25 points to lead Illinois to a 54-53 comeback victory over Penn State on Tuesday night.McCamey hit a jump shot with 1:02 to play to give the Illini (12-5, 4-0 Big Ten) a 53-52 lead that stood up. Penn State’s Talor Battle missed a jump shot as the game ended.The Illini trailed 48-40 with 8:46 to play after a 16-5 Penn State run.Chris Babb led Penn State (8-8, 0-4) with 15 points. He scored 12 points from behind the 3-point line. Battle added nine points on cold 4-for-19 shooting.Mike Tisdale added 16 for the Illini.McCamey hadn’t started since a loss to Gonzaga on Jan. 2.

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CEDAR FALLS—Ali Farokhmanesh scored 14 points, Jordan Eglseder added 11 and 10 rebounds and Northern Iowa edged Bradley 52-50 Tuesday night, tying the school record with its 14th consecutive victory.The Panthers (15-1) are off to their best start since going 19-1 to open the 1963-64 season and are in 6-0 Missouri Valley Conference play for the first time.Sam Maniscalco scored 15 points to lead the Braves (7-9, 2-4).UNI last won 14 straight when it won the final four games of the 1962-63 season and opened the next season with 10 straight victories. Only No. 2 Kentucky (17) and No. 1 Texas (15) have longer active winning streaks. Northern Iowa trailed 27-26 at halftime. It opened the second half on a 12-5 run and led the rest of the way but never comfortably. Bradley twice pulled to within one, including 51-50 on Maniscalco’s layup with 21 seconds to play.