For Klee's Live Report from the Assembly Hall, click here.

For photos from Friday night win, click here.

CHAMPAIGN - From her seat in the courtside bleachers, Lynda Paul could see that her son had some anxiety humming through his 18-year-old bones.

"When he's nervous, he adjusts his jersey. That's how he channels his energy," she said. "Brandon's a neat freak. Everything has to be perfect."

Keep fixing that jersey, Brandon. You'll be taking a lot of photos if the rest of your Illinois career is anything like your debut.

Paul raised the curtains with a game-high 22 points in No. 23 Illinois' 96-69 blowout of SIU-Edwardsville on Friday. He broke the UI scoring record for a freshman in a season opener, set by Deon Thomas in 1990 (21 points).

"I really wasn't thinking about that during the game," Paul said of the record.

"He's just cool and calm," said coach Bruce Weber, who moved to 7-0 in season openers at Illinois (1-0). "He doesn't get too excited."

You can't say the same for a giddy crowd, announced at 16,012. Paul subbed out to loud applause after sinking 8 of 15 shots, including 4 of 6 three-pointers and an acrobatic tip-in that broke the rookie record.

"He played great," said junior Mike Davis, who had his 10th career double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds. "He played up to his potential."

Four Illini scored in double figures as Illinois busted out with a rip-roaring start to the season. The final tally marked Illinois' highest point total since scoring 105 points against Longwood during the Final Four campaign of 2004-05.

"They don't play like freshmen, especially D.J. Richardson. He's really good," said SIUE (0-1) coach Lennox Forrester. "He's a guy that comes in and acts like he's a senior, the way he's playing."

Forrester actually put his best defender on Richardson, who had 14 points. After the Peoria product led Illinois in scoring in two exhibition games, it seemed like the right move. But it was Paul that torched the Cougars by hitting his first four shots.

"Everybody on our team, you never know who's going to score the most points," Richardson said.

Paul claimed "some butterflies" during warmups. But there was a reason he played like a salty veteran. His parents - Cliff and Lynda Paul - were joined in the crowd with his grandmother and two of his great aunts. His AAU coach, Dickey Simpkins, called the game as an analyst for ESPN360.

"I've seen Brandon play well often. My expectations are that he will consistently play like that," said Lynda Paul, who also coached Brandon on the club circuit. "Those are my expectations. I'm sure those will soon be coach Weber's expectations, too."

Weber joked that Paul is "always looking in the mirror" to make certain his appearance is just so. He can wear makeup and rock a bow tie if he plays like that.

"I know it's just one game and there's a lot to go, but it shows you what these guys can do," Weber said.