Oct 6, 2001

Final Stats?|? Quotes?|? Notes

By JASON STRAIT
Associated Press Writer

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) - Brandon Lloyd had 168 yards receiving and caught two touchdown passes from Kurt Kittner as Illinois beat Minnesota 25-14 on Saturday.

Lloyd, who reached 100 yards for the third time this season, scored on a 59-yard pass in the second half to put the Illini (4-1, 1-1 Big Ten) up for good. Minnesota defender Justin Fraley slipped and fell on the play, leaving Lloyd wide open for the touchdown.

Minnesota (1-3, 0-2) failed to score in the first half and appeared flat after last week's overtime loss to Purdue.

Kittner, the Big Ten's second leading passer, was sharp early despite throwing into a strong wind on a chilly day at Memorial Stadium.

The senior quarterback completed six of his first seven pass attempts for 90 yards, the last a 28-yard touchdown pass to Lloyd. Kittner found Lloyd five times in the first quarter for 81 yards.

Kittner finished 16-of-28 for 239 yards with two touchdowns and one interception.

The Illini running game, which has been inconsistent this season, came up big. Illinois totaled 198 yards on the ground, loosening up the Gophers defense and giving Kittner plenty of time to throw.

Antoineo Harris finished with 65 yards on 28 carries, and Rocky Harvey had 65 yards on 17 tries.

Illinois, which had lost two straight to Minnesota by a combined 64 points, dominated the first half. The Illini totaled 16 first downs, compared to just five for Gophers, and outgained Minnesota 259-98 in the opening two quarters.

Down 16-0 in the second half, the Gophers went 80 yards in nine plays to score on a 7-yard run by Marion Barber III.

Minnesota scored on its next possession following an Illinois field goal when quarterback Travis Cole found Antoine Burns for a 16-yard touchdown strike to narrow the score to 19-14.

However, Kittner found Lloyd two plays later, and the Gophers didn't threaten the rest of the game against the Illinois defense

Minnesota running back Tellis Redmon finished with 96 yards on 23 carries.

Peter Christofilakos kicked three field goals for the Illini, none longer than 22 yards. John Gockman connected on a 51-yard field goal.