Champaign, IL (Sports Network) - Rashard Mendenhall ran for a game-high 189 yards and two touchdowns in leading the Illinois Fighting Illini to a 28-17 win over the Ball State Cardinals in non-conference action at Memorial Stadium.

Mendenhall carried the ball 28 times for the Illini (6-3) as they became bowl eligible for the first time since 2002. Quarterback Juice Williams added another 99 yards rushing and two scores on the ground, in addition to 7-of-15 passing for 145 yards and two interceptions as the team snapped a two-game slide.

The Cardinals (5-4) were paced by Nate Davis who converted 16-of-33 for 167 yards and a score, but was sacked four times and picked off once as the visitors had their two-game win streak snapped.

Following a scoreless first quarter, Illinois put the first points on the board with a two-yard touchdown run by Mendenhall, capping a 10-play, 77-yard drive.

With just under four minutes remaining in the first half the Cardinals cut into the deficit with a 22-yard field goal by Jake Hogue.

Ball State actually took the lead early in the third when Mike Dorulla picked off a pass and returned it 36 yards for a score, giving the Cardinals a slim 10-7 advantage.

Within a span of just over three minutes the Illini made it into the end zone twice, first on a 10-yard run by Williams, followed by a Mendenhall 30-yard scamper to give Illinois a 21-10 edge.

Davis and Darius Hill combined for a 24-yard touchdown pass at the 3:01 mark of the third frame, making the score 21-17, but the Cardinals offense failed to pose a threat the rest of the way.

Williams finished off the visitors with a three-yard TD run in the fourth, capping a quick five-play, 80-yard drive that consumed just 90 seconds on the clock.

Illinois posted 324 yards rushing, compared to 170 for the Cardinals, with BSU putting up 337 yards of total offense on 71 plays. The Illini ran four fewer plays yet compiled 469 yards.