HUME — In the 13 years that Joel Beesley has coached Uni boys varsity basketball, his players had never won more than four games at the start of a season before losing.

Until this year.

The Illineks steamrolled the Shiloh Raiders 72-23 Friday night in Uni's first road game of the young season.

The victory raised Uni's record to 5-0, the longest undefeated start ever under Beesley.

The previous best was 4-0 in 2004-05. That team, which featured an up-and-coming freshman named Mike Renner, finished the year 23-5, just one win shy of the most ever by a Uni team. The 1943-44 squad, coached by Wilmer Alstrom, holds that honor with 24.

Only three Uni teams have started better than 5-0: 1943-44 (7-0 start, 24-4 final record), 1939-40 (7-0, 16-7), and 1938-39 (7-0, 14-7). Alstrom coached each of those squads.

In Friday's game, the Illineks used 12 steals, 4 blocked shots, and 30 rebounds to dominate the Raiders for the second time this year. In Uni's season opener on Nov. 19 the Illineks won by 48 points, 80-32.

Renner, now a senior closing in on the school career-scoring record held by his brother Al (1,372), led the team with 19 points, including two 3-pointers.

He now has 1,150 points — second on the all-time list — and a school-record 126 career treys. Renner also had a team-high 4 steals as Uni continued its opportunistic ways on defense.

His performance came a day after he was named The News-Gazette's male high school athlete of the week in recognition of his accomplishments in the Central Illinois Turkey Tourney. Renner broke 2005 alum Henry Pollock's 3-point career record during the Nov. 24 championship game.

Against Shiloh, two other Illineks scored in double figures: seniors Austin Rundus (12 points, two treys) and Isaac Radnitzer (10 points). Radnitzer led Uni in rebounding with 9 boards, followed by junior Alan Kessler with 7.

The Illineks essentially put the game away in the first quarter as they built an 18-8 lead. By halftime their margin had expanded to more than 20 points, 36-14. Uni held Shiloh to only 9 points in the entire second half as the visitors came away with a 49-point victory.

Last year Uni split with Shiloh, winning 55-46 in their first meeting and losing 65-61 during winter-break tournament action.

In their first five games, the Illineks have set an impressive standard for the rest of the season. They have scored an average of 73.6 points per game while holding their opponents to 34.8 ppg. That comes out to an average margin of victory of 38.8 points.

By comparison, the 2004-05 team scored 50.2 ppg and gave up 37.0 in its 4-0 start.

Making it to 6-0 is not going to be easy for this Uni squad, however. Next up for the Illineks will be crosstown rival St. Thomas More on Tuesday. Last season the Sabers handily defeated Uni 54-32.

But two things will be working in Uni's favor: The game will be at Kenney Gym, and the Illineks can look to the recent past for inspiration. The last time STM visited Kenney, in December 2005, the Illineks won 67-58.

In junior varsity action on Friday, the Uni JV raised its record to 2-1 with a 33-27 victory over Shiloh.

THE SEASON SO FAR

2007-08 BOYS VARSITY BASKETBALL: 5-0 overall, 0-0 East Central Illinois Conference
(home matches listed in bold)

Nov. 19: Shiloh (Central Illinois Turkey Tourney), W 80-32

• Story: Uni routs Shiloh in season-opening tournament game
• Points: Mike Renner 13, Austin Rundus 13, Chumar Williams 12, Isaac Radnitzer 12, Frankie McFarland 11
• Rebounds: McFarland 7, Renner 6, Ammar Rizwan 5
• Assists: Williams 11
• JV game: Bement 26 - Uni 25
• JV record: 0-1, 0-0

Nov. 20: Buckley Christ Lutheran (Central Illinois Turkey Tourney), W 69-17

• Story: Uni faces no trouble in 69-17 win over BCL
• Points: Chumar Williams 13, Isaac Radnitzer 12, Mike Renner 11, Alan Kessler 11
• JV game: Uni 36 - Shiloh 15
• JV record: 1-1, 0-0

Nov. 23: Bement (Central Illinois Turkey Tourney), W 73-59

• Story: Uni to play in tournament final after victory over Bement
• Points: Chumar Williams 21, Austin Rundus 15, Mike Renner 13
• Rebounds: Rundus 8
• Assists: Williams 8
• JV game: none
• JV record: 1-1, 0-0

Nov. 24: Martinsville (Central Illinois Turkey Tourney championship game), W 74-43

• Story: Renner breaks 3-point record as Uni wins Turkey Tourney championship
• Points: Mike Renner 23 (four 3-pointers), Chumar Williams 16, Isaac Radnitzer 8, Frankie McFarland 8
• Rebounds: Renner 5, Radnitzer 5
• Assists: Renner 8, Williams 6
• Steals: Williams 4
• JV game: none
• JV record: 1-1, 0-0

Nov. 30: at Shiloh, W 72-23

• Story: see above
• Points: Mike Renner 19 (two 3-pointers, 1-2 FT), Austin Rundus 12 (two 3-pointers, 4-5 FT), Isaac Radnitzer 10, Alan Kessler 9 (5-8 FT), Dan Lilly 6, Ammar Rizwan 5 (1-1 FT), Malcolm Taylor 5 (3-4 FT), Frankie McFarland 4 (0-2 FT), Chumar Williams 2
• Rebounds: Radnitzer 9, Kessler 7, McFarland 4, Renner 2, Rundus 2, Lilly 2, Rizwan 2, Taylor 2
• Assists: Renner 2, Rundus 2, Radnitzer 2, Lilly 2, Williams 2, Taylor 1
• Blocks: Hamer 2, Renner 1, Radnitzer 1
• Steals: Renner 4, Lilly 3, Rundus 2, Radnitzer 1, Kessler 1, Williams 1
• JV game: Uni def. Shiloh 33-27
• JV record: 2-1, 0-0

Next game: Tuesday vs. St. Thomas More at Kenney Gym. The JV game will begin at 6 p.m., followed by varsity action. Visitors click here for directions to Uni High.

2007-08 schedule: Click here for the Gargoyle Scoreboard.