Feb. 10, 2001

Box Score
Illini Wrap, video version
Illini Wrap, audio version

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (AP) - Brian Cook scored 17 points and No. 7 Illinois used a 24-7 second-half run to breeze to an 82-61 victory over Purdue on Saturday.

The Illini (19-5, 9-2 Big Ten) ended a nine-game losing streak to Purdue (13-9, 5-6), which played without leading scorer Rodney Smith and leading rebounder and shot-blocker John Allison. Both missed the game with foot injuries.

Carson Cunningham, who led the Boilermakers with 25 points, hit a 3-pointer to cut the Illinois lead to 46-41 with 15:30 to go, but Cook followed with a basket and Robert Archibald converted a layup off a Purdue turnover to start the game-clinching run.

Cook hit another 3-pointer that pushed the lead to 55-43, and Cory Bradford's 3-pointer pushed the advantage to 70-48.

Illinois was 8-of-18 from 3-point range and 22-of-27 from the free-throw line. Purdue was 8-of-16 from 3-point range.

Adam Wetzel, who replaced Allison, and Brett Buscher, who replaced Smith, combined for five points.

The Boilermakers have lost three straight and six of eight since starting 3-0 in the Big Ten. They fell to 2-5 this year against ranked teams and have lost three straight conference games for the first time since the 1992-93 season.

The Illini's largest lead in the first half was 12 points, but Purdue got two 3-pointers from Joe Marshall during a 10-4 run and trailed 36-30 at the half.