CHAMPAIGN -- When the score came trickling in last week, Bruce Weber knew he had a little ammunition to give to his Illini basketball team.

Little Le Moyne College, with an enrollment of about 2,300, had knocked off 25th-ranked Syracuse 82-79 in an exhibition game.

It was a stunner, all right, but not the first one.

In 2007, 8th-ranked Michigan State lost in two overtimes to Division II Grand Valley State, 85-82. That same season Ohio State dropped a 70-68 decision to Division II Findlay.

In each case, games penciled in as victories turned into losses when an inspired, hot-shooting opponent hung around and decided they could win.

"Most of our players are on the Internet or get scores on their phones so they probably knew about the Syracuse game right away," Weber said. "I probably don't even have to tell them."

Yeah, but he probably will some time before Sunday's 4 p.m. exhibition game against Quincy in the Assembly Hall.

It's the second of two exhibition games Illinois has on tap before the regular-season opener Friday night against Southern Illinois-Edwardsville.

Quincy played an exhibition game Friday night at Notre Dame and actually led 17-16 midway through the first half. But Notre Dame buckled down and won the game 75-54.

Billy Baptist, a 6-5 senior, led Quincy with 14 points. Justin Brock, a 6-8 junior, added 11 points and nine rebounds.

Weber said he's still trying to decide who to start, but made it clear he'd like to make sure playing time is distributed to players who have earned it.

In the exhibition opener against Missouri Southern, he started senior Dominique Keller. Sunday, he might go with three guards and start freshman D.J. Richardson.

"Dominique wants to start," Weber said. "But I've tried to tell him it really doesn't matter whether or not he starts. If he does the things we're asking (be active, rebound the ball), he'll get his minutes and there's a good chance he'll be on the court at the end. And that's what matters."

What Weber is discovering is that he has many options, more than in the past. Another freshman, Brandon Paul, has also played well enough to start.

In the first exhibition game, Demetri McCamey led five players in double figures with 16 points.

Quincy is coached by Marty Bell, who Weber knew when he was an assistant at Drake while Weber was head coach at Southern Illinois in the Missouri Valley Conference.

Quincy was the preseason pick to win the North Division of the Great Lakes Valley Conference. Quincy returns four starters from last year's team, which finished 16-12. Baptist and Brock were all-conference picks a year ago.

Before Sunday's 4 p.m. tipoff, coach Jolette Law leads her Illini women's team against Lewis University in an exhibition game which begins at 11:30 a.m.

Quincy at Illinois

WHEN: Sunday, 4 p.m.

WHERE: Assembly Hall, Champaign

TV: Online at BigTenNetwork.com

RADIO: Illini Sports Network, including WSOY (1340 AM)