Jan. 19, 2001

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) - Illinois hopes to hang on to its new position atop the Big Ten Conference when it plays host to Penn State on Saturday.

The 11th-ranked Fighting Illini (14-4, 4-1 Big Ten) took sole possession of first place by a half-game Wednesday with a 63-49 win over Northwestern.

Despite watching his team take over the top spot in the Big Ten, Illinois coach Bill Self was not pleased with his team's lackluster effort.

"The wrong team won tonight," Self said. "Northwestern played harder than us. We didn't play very well."

Frank Williams overcame a sore tailbone to lead Illinois with 16 points, eight rebounds, five assists and four steals.

Solid defense has been the key to the Illini's success of late.

After blocking a total of 37 shots over the first 12 games of the season, the Fighting Illini have totaled 45 in the last six games. Their season average of 4.5 blocks a game is the team's highest since 1987, when the Illini averaged 4.7 per contest.

After 18 games, Illinois opponents are shooting just 37.9 percent from the field, the lowest mark since the 1955-56 team held the opposition to 35.2 percent.

The Illini also are playing at a solid level offensively, averaging 78.5 points per game, their highest total since 1994 when they averaged 84.0 per game.

Illinois won all three matchups with Penn State last season and has won 11 of the last 13 after losing the first three meetings in the series.

The Nittany Lions (11-4, 2-3) are coming off Wednesday's 77-69 loss to Indiana despite Gyasi Cline-Heard having tied a career high with 23 points.

Joe Crispin, the Big Ten's leading scorer, was held to 10 points on 3-of-15 shooting. His only offensive contribution in the first half was two free throws and Penn State ended up trailing 40-22 at halftime.

"We were horrible, period," coach Jerry Dunn said. "I think we played with not much of a sense of urgency early on and Indiana got into us defensively."

Penn State was outrebounded 31-14 and shot just 35 percent from the field.

"We have to concentrate on the Illinois game now, " sophomore guard Brandon Watkins said. "We have to put this loss behind us."