Feb. 6, 2000

Box Score

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) - Cory Bradford scored 18 points, including 10 of Illinois' final 12, and Penn State missed three of four free throws with the game on the line as the Illini beat the Lions 51-50 Sunday.

The Illini (13-7, 5-4 Big Ten) survived despite being outshot 50 percent to 26 percent in the second half.

With Penn State trailing 51-49 with 30 seconds to play, Joe Crispin was fouled on a drive to the basket, but fell hard and had to leave the game with a gash over his eye and a bloody nose. Brandon Watkins took the foul shots instead and made one of two, the Lions trailed 51-50.

After Brian Cook twice missed the front end of one-and-ones, Gyasi Cline-Heard - 38 percent from the line - missed two free throws then a wide-open potential game-winner from 10 feet.

Cook added 15 points for the Illini in this matchup of fifth-place teams.

Illinois went up 11 points in the first half against the cold-shooting Nittany Lions (12-8, 4-5). The Illini then let Penn State come back, missing 11 straight shots during a 14-0 Penn State run.

Crispin had 13 points for the Lions, while Jarrett Stephens and Cline-Heard had 12 apiece.

Cook, a freshman, has been more than a solid fill-in since replacing injured Marcus Griffin as starting center two weeks ago. He scored 16.8 points per game in his first four starts, including 20 against the Lions Jan. 22.

He looked hot right from the start Sunday, scoring Illinois' first three baskets on a turnaround jumper, a 15-footer and a dunk. He ended the half with 10 points after an alley-oop dunk to give Illinois its largest lead, 27-16. He went 5-for-5, and Illinois shot 12-for-22 (55 percent) in the half.

Cline-Heard's eight points were the only bright spot in a lousy first half for Penn State, which was 7-for-22 from the field (32 percent), 0-7 from 3-point range.