Dec 18, 2001

Final Stats

ILLINI WRAP - VIDEO | AUDIO
courtesy of WCIA-TV, Channel 3, Champaign
POST-GAME COMMENTS:
Coach Bill Self - VIDEO | AUDIO
Luther Head, Frank Williams and Brian Cook - VIDEO | AUDIO

By JASON STRAIT
Associated Press Writer

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) - Illinois coach Bill Self had questioned the leadership of Frank Williams for much of the season. Now he's praising it.

"Frank's getting better in that regard," Self said after Illinois' 87-73 win over Illinois State on Tuesday. "He's getting to the point where he takes (responsibility) off the other guys, which I think is real important because he's tough enough to shoulder it all."

Williams and Illinois (9-2) were good enough against the Redbirds (4-6), particularly in the second half.

The Illini led by five at halftime but went on a 17-6 run in which Williams scored eight straight points and 11 in total to help Illinois build a 20-point lead. He finished with 29 points - including 4-of-8 from 3-point range - one off his career high.

"They really exploited us inside," said Illinois State coach Tom Richardson. "I thought going in they might do that. Combined with Frank Williams they were just too much for us."

The outsized Redbirds were able to stay in the game in first half by getting Illinois' two starting big men in early foul trouble.

The Illini played most of the first half without Brian Cook and Robert Archibald. Cook played four minutes in the first half, and Archibald, whistled for three early fouls, played two just minutes.

"We really didn't have the personal we normally have to attack them inside," Self said. "The second half we shot a great percentage because look at where our touches were."

With their big men back in the game, most of those were down low.

Leading 37-32 at halftime, the Illini extended their lead to 50-38 in the opening minutes of the second half with Williams on the bench because of a stomach ailment. Reserve Damir Krupalija scored nine of Illinois' 13 points in the surge and finished with 14 points on 6-for-7 shooting.

Illinois made 13 of its first 17 field goal attempts after halftime and shot 60 percent in the half, with most of those points coming on shots near the basket. The Illini shot 53 percent for the game.

"The difference was they got more physical inside. They just pounded it inside on us. They wore us out," said Gregg Alexander, who led the Redbirds with 15 points on 7-of-15 shooting.

Williams, who has been battling stomach problems this week, added eight rebounds and four steals and was 11-of-19 from the field.

Illinois' height advantage proved troublesome to Illinois State.

Forced to shoot jumpers for much of the game, the Redbirds were just 4-for-20 from 3-point range, and shot 42 percent from the field.

Cook finished with 10 points. Archibald, scoreless in the first half, had eight.

Illinois played its second game in three days against an in-state opponent. The Illini face No. 8 Missouri on Friday.

Missouri will be the third highly ranked opponent Illinois will have faced this season. The Illini lost the previous two to Maryland and Arizona, but Williams said this is an improved Illinois that has won three straight.

"We know we haven't played to the best of our ability all season," Williams said. "I think we're now starting to get everyone's best effort."

Baboucarr Bojang had 15 points for the Redbirds.

The schools, located approximately 50 miles apart, played for just the seventh time, the first since 1982. The Illini won the last meeting 67-60, and has lost to the Redbirds once, in 1906.

Self said he would like to face Illinois State again, but only at home.

"About midway through the first half I would have given an emphatic no," he said. "I imagine there's a chance we're going to play in the future, but I can guarantee it's going to be in the confines of this building."