Tomislav Ivisic scores 20 points and Illinois overcomes 18 turnovers to beat Oakland 66-54

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) — Tomislav Ivisic scored 20 points, Ben Humrichous added 10 and Illinois overcame 18 turnovers to beat Oakland 66-54 on Wednesday night.

Illinois has started a season 3-0 for the fourth time under Brad Underwood, and the second time in three seasons after starting the 2022-23 season 4-0.

Illinois had its lead trimmed to 38-36 early in the second half before going on a 17-4 run for a 55-40 lead. Ivisic started the run, that included 11 straight points, with three made field goals. Oakland was just 2 of 10 from the field during the run.

Ivisic was 9 of 14 from the field, while the rest of his teammates combined to go 14 of 41.

Jayson Woodrich scored 11 points and DQ Cole added 10 for Oakland (1-2). The Grizzlies shot just 38% from the field, including 4 of 25 from 3-point range.

Oakland also turned it over 18 times.

Both teams play a top-five team in their next game. Oakland plays at top-ranked Kansas on Saturday. Illinois has a week off before playing at No. 2 Alabama on Nov. 20 in the C.M. Newton Classic.

Illinois's Tomislav Ivisic (13) drives to the basket as Oakland's Tuburu Naivalurua defends during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2024, in Champaign, Ill. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

Illinois's Will Riley shoots over Oakland's Malcolm Christie during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2024, in Champaign, Ill. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

Illinois's Morez Johnson Jr., left, and Oakland's Allen Mukeba battle for a rebound during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2024, in Champaign, Ill. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

Illinois's Tre White (22) drives to the basket as Oakland's Allen Mukeba defends during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2024, in Champaign, Ill. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

Illinois's Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn dunks the ball during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Oakland on Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2024, in Champaign, Ill. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

Illinois's Ben Humrichous dunks the ball during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Oakland on Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2024, in Champaign, Ill. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

Illinois's Tomislav Ivisic (13) shoots over Oakland's Allen Mukeba during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2024, in Champaign, Ill. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

MOSCOW (AP) — A Russian man went on trial Thursday on charges of high treason for a video he had allegedly sent to Ukraine's security services, the latest in a growing series of espionage cases involving the conflict.

The Volgograd District Court began hearing a new case against Nikita Zhuravel, who is currently serving a 3 1/2-year sentence for burning a Quran in front of a mosque.

The new charges are based on allegations that Zhuravel filmed a trainload of military equipment and warplanes in 2023 and sent the video to a representative of Ukraine’s security agency. He could be sentenced to life in prison if convicted.

Rights activists say Zhuravel is a political prisoner who was beaten while in custody.

While in pretrial custody before his first sentence, Zhuravel was beaten by the 15-year-old son of Ramzan Kadyrov, the Kremlin-appointed strongman leader of the mostly Muslim region of Chechnya. The elder Kadyrov posted the video on social media and praised his son, causing public outrage. He later awarded his son with the medal of “Hero of the Republic of Chechnya.”

Federal authorities have refrained from any criticism of the Chechen strongman.

Separately, a military court on Thursday sentenced to 24 years in prison a man convicted of treason and terrorism for setting fire to a military recruitment office in Moscow. Prosecutors said Sergei Andreev committed the November 2023 attack on instructions from the Ukrainian special services that he received on a messaging app.

Treason and espionage cases have skyrocketed after President Vladimir Putin sent troops into Ukraine in February 2022. The cases have targeted a wide range of suspects, from Kremlin critics and independent journalists to scientists, drawing attention from rights groups.

The legal definition of treason has been expanded to include providing vaguely defined “assistance” to foreign countries or organizations, effectively exposing to prosecution anyone in contact with foreigners.

Nikita Zhuravel, right, is escorted by the police to a courtroom prior to a hearing of a treason case in Volgograd, Russia, Thursday, Nov. 14, 2024. (AP Photo)

Nikita Zhuravel, right, is escorted by the police to a court prior to a hearing of a treason case in Volgograd, Russia, Thursday, Nov. 14, 2024. (AP Photo)

Nikita Zhuravel, right, is escorted by the police to a court prior to a hearing of a treason case in Volgograd, Russia, Thursday, Nov. 14, 2024. (AP Photo)