Jan. 17, 2001

Box Score

Illini Wrap (video version)
Illini Wrap (audio version)

By RICK GANO
AP Sports Writer

EVANSTON, Ill. - Brian Cook scored the last eight points in a 13-2 second-half run and No. 11 Illinois overcame the loss of injured center Marcus Griffin to finally pull away and beat pesky Northwestern 63-49 Wednesday night.

Northwestern, suffering its 27th straight regular-season loss in the Big Ten, trailed 44-43 with 10:39 left after Aaron Jennings scored consecutive baskets for the Wildcats.

Robert Archibald, starting in place of Griffin, the team's second-leading scorer and leading rebounder who was sidelined with a bruised tailbone, hit an inside basket and then converted a three-point play for a six-point lead.

Then it was Cook's turn.

He muscled in a basket on the second try, picked up a loose ball and scored again, followed in another miss and then took a nifty pass from Frank Williams for another basket to cap the decisive run that made it 57-45 with just over four minutes left.

Despite Griffin's absence, Illinois dominated the boards 42-18 as Cook grabbed 11 rebounds.

Williams led the Illini (14-4, 4-1) with 16 points and the 6-foot-10 Cook had 10 of his 14 points in the second half.

Ben Johnson had 11 points for Northwestern (7-10, 0-5).

Cory Bradford started a a 13-0 first-half run for the Illini with a reverse layup and capped it with a 3-pointer - extending his NCAA record to 82 straight games with a 3 - as Illinois opened a 10-point lead late in the first half. The surge also included two tough jumpers in traffic by Williams and a dunk and follow by Cook.

The Illini initially had problems with Northwestern's patient pass-and-cut offense but pounded the Wildcats on the boards in the opening half 22-9.

Northwestern, despite shooting just 36 percent, still stayed close with its gritty play and trailed 32-25 at halftime.

Illinois has won 38 of the last 42 meetings between the schools, including 11 of the last 12.