Dec. 31, 2002

Recap?|? Final Stats

• Illinois improves to 9-1 on the season and a perfect 6-0 at the Assembly Hall.

• Illinois' defense was outstanding during the contest holding Coppin State to 12-of-41 shooting (29.3 percent). Illinois has now held its last-four opponents under 40 percent shooting from the floor and has held six opponents under the 40 percent mark this season.

• Coppin State's 12 field goals is also a season best for the Illinois defense. The previous best was 15 field goals by Arkansas-Pine Bluff. The 12 buckets is also the fewest number of field goals ever made by an opponent in the Assembly Hall. Illinois has held four opponents to 13 field goals at the Assembly Hall, most recently vs. Michigan on Jan. 13, 2001 when the Wolverines hit 13.

• Coppin State was held to 37 points, which equals a season low (37 vs. North Carolina State). The last time Illinois held an opponent to under 40 points was on Feb. 19, 2000, when Illinois defeated Northwestern 63-30.

• Illinois used another big run to turn a 38-32 game into the 26-point margin. Over the final 12:08 of the contest, Illinois went on a 25-5 run holding the Eagles to just five free throws and no field goals.

• Illinois made 22 buckets on the night with 21 of those hoops coming directly from assists. Deron Williams led the Illini with a game-high six assists.

• Brian Cook has made 31 consecutive free throws after shooting six-of-six from the stripe tonight. Cook's last miss was Dec. 10 vs. Eastern Illinois. Cook's 31 makes is the third longest steak in school history, one free throw make behind Rob Judson who hit 32 straight from Feb. 3, 1979 - Jan. 26, 1980. Kiwane Garris holds the school record with 39 consecutive makes.

• Cook also scored a game-high 20 points giving him 1,310 points, 16th on the Illinois career scoring list, passing Johnny "Red" Kerr (1952-54) who scored 1,299.

• Sean Harrington hit six-of-eight three pointers on the night, tying a career high that first came vs. North Carolina (Dec. 3).