Feb. 18, 2003

Final Stats?|? Photo Gallery

• Tonight's game was the 95th meeting between Illinois and Michigan State. Illinois now leads the all-time series 48-47.

• Tonight's victory gives Bill Self his 70th as head coach at Illinois. The win ties Ralph Jones for the fastest Illinois coach to 70 wins. Both Self and Jones reached the 70 win mark in 92 games.

• Illinois also improves to 37-1 at the Assembly Hall under Self's tenure. Illinois' lone defeat in the Assembly Hall came Feb. 3, 2002, a 67-61 loss to Michigan State.

• Illinois continues to be successful rebounding after a defeat. After tonight's win, Illinois improves its record to 16-4 when coming off a loss under Bill Self.

• Illinois' defense this evening was outstanding as it held Michigan State to just 40 points on 32-percent shooting. Those 40 points by the Spartans ties an Assembly Hall record for the fewest points allowed to an opponent during Conference play. Coincidentally, the previous low point total was 40 by the Spartans on Jan. 26, 1984.

• Illinois' defense in the first half was even more devastating as it held Michigan State to just 17 points on 33-percent shooting (7-of-21). Coming into tonight's contest, the Spartans' season low point total for a half was 26, which they scored on Jan. 14 at Purdue.

• Tonight's 30-point win was the second largest margin of victory in series history over the Spartans next to Illinois' 32 point win (121-89) on March 9, 1965.

• The 30-point victory is also the second worst defeat in the Tom Izzo era at Michigan State. Michigan State's worst loss in the Izzo era is a 35-point defeat at Iowa on Feb. 21, 1996, Izzo's first season as head coach.

• Michigan State's 40 points is the fewest points allowed by the Illini in Big Ten play since they held Northwestern to 41 points Feb. 23, 2002, in Evanston.

• Illinois continues to show why it is leading the Big Ten in most defensive categories. This season, the Illini have allowed just three of 12 opponents to shoot better than 40 percent in the Assembly Hall. Including tonight's contest (Michigan State 32 percent), Illinois has held its last four opponents under 40-percent shooting in the Hall.

• Illinois used a pair of big runs to put this game away. Illinois' first run of 18-0 came at the 16:46 mark and turned an 8-2 Illinois deficit to a 20-8 lead. The run lasted 8:14. The second run of 21-0 came at the 13:11 mark of the second half and extended a 48-28 lead to 69-28. The second run lasted 9:32.

• Coming into tonight's contest, freshman Dee Brown's career high steal total was four, which he had vs. North Carolina Dec. 3. Brown equaled his career best theft total in the first half vs. the Spartans and upped it to five, a new career high, by game's end.

• In fact, Illinois as a team was in the taking mood as it totaled a season high 13 steals for the game. Illinois' previous team best was 12 vs. North Carolina and Missouri.

• Dee Brown scored a game-high 24 points, giving him his third 20-point game of the season and his most points in Big Ten play. Brown's season high point total is 25 vs. Eastern Illinois Dec. 10.

• In fact, Brown wasn't the only underclassman lighting up the score board as Illinois' freshmen and sophomores combined for 58 of the team's 70 points.

• Illinois' backcourt of Dee Brown and Deron Williams combined for 36 points, nine steals, six boards, eight assists and just three turnovers. Deron Williams tied career highs with 12 points and four steals. Williams also added three assists.