Lubbock is still one of the hardest places to win in college basketball.

Cruz Davis scored 20 points and No. 16 Texas Tech beat No. 3 Illinois 84-78 on Tuesday night. Davis scored 13 of his points in the first half as the Red Raiders built a big lead.

It was Texas Tech's 49th straight win at home against a nonconference opponent. Illinois was the highest-ranked nonconference team ever to visit Lubbock.

A strong debut

Jamichael Stillwell had 11 points and 13 rebounds in his first game of the season. The UCF transfer became eligible after he was granted a temporary restraining order last week.

Stillwell led a 43-32 edge on the boards against one of the best rebounding teams in the country.

Texas Tech is still without All-America forward JT Toppin. He is recovering from a torn ACL in his right knee suffered last February.

Illinois makes it close

The Red Raiders led by 22 points late in the first half. Illinois stormed back after the break.

Andrej Stojakovic scored 14 of his 18 points in the second half. His layup cut the lead to 65-64 with about five and a half minutes left. Damarion Dennis answered with a 3-pointer and the Illini never got another chance to tie or take the lead.

Freshman Quentin Coleman led Illinois with 19 points. He hit two tough 3s late to keep the game in doubt until the final minute.

One worry for Texas Tech

Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn scored 15 points before he was helped off the court with an apparent lower-body injury in the second half.

The Red Raiders are 103-1 at home against nonconference teams since December 2013. They are 26-0 in those games under fourth-year coach Grant McCasland.

Texas Tech is 3-0 and hosts Stonehill on Saturday. Illinois falls to 2-1 and hosts Sam Houston State on Friday.