Dec. 16, 2002

Recap?|? Final Stats

• Illinois improves to 7-0 on the season and 2-0 in neutral-court contests. Illinois defeated Arkansas 62-58 Dec. 7 in Little Rock, Ark., in its first neutral-court matchup.

• Today's game marked the 23rd time Illinois has played at the United Center since 1994. Illinois is now 17-6 in those games with wins coming in each of its last four outings.

• Forward Brian Cook continues to have a standout senior season after scoring a career-high-tying 25 points on 8-of-16 shooting. Cook's previous 25-point performance came Dec. 21, 2000, vs. Missouri in St. Louis. In addition, Cook grabbed a season high 11 rebounds giving Illinois and Cook their first double-doubles of the season. Cook now has nine career double-doubles.

• While Cook had career-high tying numbers in point production, he's no stranger to having big games at the United Center. In his last-four outings at the United Center, Cook has averaged 18.5 points and 8.3 rebounds a contest.

• Cook's 25 points also continues his ascent up the Illinois career-scoring charts. Cook, who is now 19th on Illinois' career scoring chart, has 1,252 career points, moving him past Lowell Hamilton (1986-89) who had 1,241 points.

• Freshman Dee Brown has been on a tear during the second half of the last-two contests. After scoring 20 of his 25 points in the second half vs. Eastern Illinois on Tuesday, Brown scored all 15 of his points today against Temple in the second half on 5-of-8 shooting, while also grabbing four second-half boards.

• After hitting just 8-of-20 (.400) foul shots vs. Eastern Illinois Dec. 10, the Illini responded by having their best free throw shooting night of the year, making their first 13 free throws and finishing the game making 19-of-21 attempts (.905).

• Illinois made 15-of-30 field goals in the second half, continuing its streak of shooting 50 percent or better in the second half of every game this season.

• Illinois' defense held Temple to just 28.8 percent shooting from the field (17-of-59 FGs). That percentage is the lowest of the season for an Illinois opponent and the lowest since Northwestern shot 28.6 percent (14-of-49) last season (Feb. 23).