Jan. 11, 2003

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• Illinois won its ninth consecutive Big Ten game and improves to 2-0 in conference play this season.

• Illinois held a 36-30 halftime lead despite Wisconsin hitting 60 percent of its shots in the first half. Illinois was able to build the advantage because it committed just four first-half turnovers and finished the game with a season-low 10 turnovers.

• In fact, Illinois didn't commit a turnover in the final 10:16 of the first half, a stretch that became critical when senior Brian Cook went to the bench for good in the half after committing his second foul. Illinois was able to outscore Wisconsin 17-11 down the stretch in the first half with Cook on the bench.

• While the Badgers hit 60 percent of its shots in the first half, the Illinois defense clamped down in the second holding UW to 35.3-percent shooting (12-of-34). This season Illinois has only allowed five opponents to shoot better than 40 percent from the field in the second half.

• Illinois opened the second half with a 9-0 run sparked by four points from Brian Cook, two points from James Augustine and a three-pointer by Sean Harrington. That three by Harrington at the 17:35 mark was the only bucket made by an Illinois player in the second half other than Cook or Augustine.

• During a 12:52 stretch in the second half, Cook scored 15 consecutive Illinois points (points 44 through 58). In fact Cook scored 24 of his career high 31 points in the second half.

• Cook's 31 points is the first time and Illinois player topped the 30-point plateau since Dec. 4, 2001, when Frank Williams dropped 30 points on Arizona. The 31 points is also the most for an Illinois player since Kevin Turner scored 35 vs. Indiana on Jan. 3, 1998.

• James Augustine scored a season and career high 17 points, 13 of which came in the first half. Augustine hit his first seven shots from the floor in the first half while playing a career-high 33 minutes.

• Illinois hit eight 3-pointers in the game, and this season Illinois has hit at least eight three-pointers in all but two games. Conversely, Illinois' perimeter defense has been devastating, holding its last four opponents to 23.5 percent shooting from behind the arc (16-of-68).