Dec. 2, 2000

Box Score

MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) - Illinois coach Bill Self never convinced his team that Kansas State would be as dangerous as the two top-ranked teams the Illini faced earlier this season.

The No. 9 Illini didn't play as emotionally against the unranked Wildcats on Saturday, but beat them 76-56 anyway.

"I thought we were ready to play," Self said. "We didn't have near the same intensity as we did in those other big games. But, we played mature and focused. A lot of it was the intensity of Kansas State. They really competed."

Marcus Griffin admitted that Illinois (5-2) was flat Saturday after losing to No. 1 Duke 78-77 on Tuesday.

The loss to Duke wrapped up a stretch where the Illini had played five games in eight days, including a 79-76 loss to then-No. 1 Arizona in the title game of the Maui Invitational.

"We had to forget about Duke and come to play," Griffin said. "We went into Greensboro looking for a win. That was hard to swallow. This was one was just a hard one to get up for. We were flat at times."

The Illini set the pace early with Griffin's inside presence, and never trailed in the game. Griffin had 20 points and 10 rebounds to lead Illinois.

"I thought Griffin had a great low post presence during the whole game," Self said. "He'd be the first to admit, though, that he showed of scored 30. He missed some easy dump shots. But, he's working intensely."

Illinois made four straight 3-pointers to take a 24-8 lead with 11:44 to go in the first half.

Sergio McClain had 12 points for Illinois and Corey Bradford added 10.

Kansas State (2-2) went on a 8-0 run in the first half to cut the lead down to nine when Travis Reynolds slam-dunked an alley-oop pass from Quenten Buchanan.

Reynolds had 15 points for the Wildcats and Kelvin Howell added 13.

Kansas State cut the lead to nine again in the second half on Phineas Atchison's jumper with 9:37 to go before the Wildcats got into foul trouble as Terry Richie fouled out.

Robert Archibald made a layup and two free throws within 46 seconds to stave off Kansas State's rally. Illinois went on a 10-2 run and Lucas Johnson hit a 3-pointer with 2:17 to go to put the Illini up big.

Illinois held the Wildcats to 34 percent shooting and forced 19 turnovers.

"Turnovers were a big problem," Kansas State coach Jim Wooldridge said. "We presented a lot of opportunities for Illinois by giving them the ball so many times. Obviously, when you play a team of Illinois' caliber, we have to do a lot of things very well."

Kansas State hasn't beaten a top 10 team since 1992 when the Wildcats upset No. 7 Kansas 74-67. Kansas State has lost nine straight meetings against ranked opponents.

Illinois holds a 7-2 advantage in the series. The Illini beat Kansas State 81-48 at home last season.

Illinois was the highest ranked non-conference opponent to visit Manhattan since No. 5 Indiana in 1982-83.