Seven-footer Meyers Leonard scored 21 points and was dominant on defense, lifting Illinois to an 82-75 win over Gonzaga at Assembly Hall.

Illinois is 8-0 for the first time since the 2005-06 season, when it started 15-0.

The Bulldogs (5-1) fell to 1-4 in the all-time series with the Fighting Illini.

Leonard’s two-hand flush with just under five minutes remaining broke the Bulldogs spirit and put the Illini up 69-60. Leonard was limited in the first half due to foul trouble, but stepped up big in the final 20 minutes, battling inside against Gonzaga center Robert Sacre.

Sacre took advantage of those early Illinois fouls, scoring 14 points in the first half. However, he recorded all five of his fouls in the second half, and finished the game with just 16.

Illinois consistently broke Gonzaga’s 2-3 zone, getting dribble penetration and sharp outside shooting to stretch the Bulldogs defense. D.J. Richardson finished with 19 points, knocking down four of seven from beyond the arc.

Gonzaga guard David Stockton, son of NBA legend John Stockton, would not go down quietly. He knocked down a late 3-pointer and finished off an old fashioned three point play to pull the Bulldogs within five points. Stockton finished with nine points off the bench.

Sam Maniscalco continued his progress as the Illini’s floor general, tallying 10 points, five assists, five rebounds and four steals. Brandon Paul chipped in with 13 points.

Elias Harris led the Bulldogs in scoring with 19 points, getting eight of those points from the foul line.

Illinois extended its non-conference home winning streak to 23 games.