Jan. 3, 2001

Box Score

By JOHN KELLY
Associated Press Writer

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - Marcus Griffin scored 27 points as No. 9 Illinois beat Minnesota 80-64 Wednesday night in the Big Ten opener for both teams.

After shooting 7-for-45 from 3-point range in its last two games, Illinois pledged to attack the basket against the smaller Gophers and kept that promise. The Illini front line combined for 43 points and would have had more if not for a flurry of errant, circus-style passes.

Frank Williams scored all 16 of his points in the second half and Brian Cook added 11 rebounds and six blocks for Illinois (11-3).

The loss ended an eight-game winning streak and one of the best starts in school history for Minnesota (12-2), which got 21 points from Dusty Rychart.

Griffin and Rychart starred in an otherwise sloppy first half, each scoring 13 points.

Sean Harrington's back-to-back 3-pointers - the only ones Illinois made in the first half - gave the Illini an early 12-5 lead. But despite outrebounding the Gophers 22-12 and blocking seven shots, the Illini could not build on the advantage and led 29-27 at halftime.

Illinois' shooting woes ended after the break. Illini, which shot 33 percent in the first half, shot 62 percent in the second half.

The Illini made shot 4-for-9 from 3-point range in the second half. Cory Bradford hit a 3-pointer, extending his NCAA-record streak of making at least one 3-pointer to 78 straight games.

The difference was Griffin, who scored eight points in a 23-8 run at the start of the second half. Griffin added seven rebounds, two blocks and an assist.