Dec. 10, 2002

Recap?|? Final Stats

• Illinois' 80-68 win over Eastern Illinois improves the Illini to 6-0 on the season, which is the best start for Illinois since the 1995-96 season when it opened the year 9-0.

• The victory also improves Illinois to 6-0 all-time vs. Eastern Illinois and 2-0 vs. in-state opponents this season. In fact, Illinois has won its last-16 match-ups vs. in-state foes dating back to the 1998-99 season.

• Tonight's win is also Illinois' eighth consecutive at the Assembly Hall and the 24th consecutive win over non-conference opponents at home.

• In addition, head coach Bill Self improves to 30-1 all-time at the Assembly Hall.

• Freshman Dee Brown scored a career and team-high 25 points, 20 of which came in the second half. En route to scoring his 20 second-half points, Brown hit four of six second half three-point attempts. His five-of-eight shooting beyond the arc for the game also set career highs for both three-point makes and attempts.
• Senior Brian Cook also topped the 20-point plateau for the second time this season, scoring 21 points on 8-of-12 shooting. His 21 points give him 1,227 for his career moving him into 20th on the Illinois career scoring chart.

• Cook's 21 points also improves his season scoring average to 19.5, which leads the Big Ten Conference.

• The 20-point performances by Cook and Brown is the first time Illinois has had two players top the 20-point plateau since Dec. 8, 2001 vs. Arkansas when Cook scored 21 and Frank Williams scored 25 at the United Center vs. Arkansas.
• Sophomore Roger Powell was the third Illini in double figures as he scored 16 points, just one point shy of a career high. Powell now has 80 points this season through six games, one more point than he scored all of last season.

• The trio of Brown, Cook and Powell combined for 62 of Illinois' 80 points (77.5 percent).

• While it was just a six-point game at the half, Illinois took control of the contest thanks to a 17-of-29 shooting performance (58.6 percent) in the second half. Illinois has shot better than 50 percent in the second half in every game this season.