Feb. 17, 2001

Box Score

By MICHAEL MAROT
AP Sports Writer

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Illinois had too many weapons, too much depth and too much defense for Indiana on Saturday.

The Hoosiers couldn't withstand the combination.

Brian Cook scored 16 points, Frank Williams added 14 and the Illini defense stopped the Hoosiers' inside game as it held on for a 67-61 victory.

"I think the difference in the game was our bench," Illinois coach Bill Self said. "If anything, I think the course of time, it had to fatigue the Indiana starters. Three of our starters had off nights, but our bench won the game for us."

Just as it has been doing all season.

The Illini (21-5, 11-2 Big Ten) have won five straight games - the longest streak in Big Ten play this season, and four straight against the Hoosiers

And once again, the Illini's depth not only wore down an opponent, it flat out beat it. The Illinois bench outscored Indiana's 30-5 and outrebounded it 20-2.

Then it turned the game over to a defense that ranks No. 1 in the Big Ten in field-goal percentage allowed. On Saturday, Illinois limited the Hoosiers to just 35.2 percent shooting and forced the Hoosiers to take their shots from long range.

"They were very physical inside, which was why we took a lot of outside shots," said Tom Coverdale, who had 16 points for the Hoosiers. "We kept going inside in the second half and getting fouls."

But it didn't seem to matter.

Illinois just ran in more players - Cook, Marcus Griffin, Robert Archibald, Damir Krupalija and Lucas Johnson. Each produced.

Archibald finished with 11 points and eight rebounds, while Johnson had eight points and Krupalija had six points and seven rebounds.

It was exactly what the Illini wanted to against the Hoosiers, who have relied on the inside punch of Kirk Haston and Jared Jeffries much of the season. Haston finished with 18 points and Jeffries 16, but most of their scoring came from outside.

"The bench guys really pride ourselves on going out there and keeping up the energy," Johnson said. "We want to keep things going."

They certainly managed to make an impact Saturday.

After clinging to a 28-27 halftime lead, Illinois seemingly took control after a 6-0 mini-run when Sean Harrington hit a 3-pointer and Krupalija put in a layup. That gave Illinois a 41-33 lead with 13:56 left.

The Hoosiers (16-10, 7-5) scored the next four points, but then the Illinois defense stepped up.

"I think we did a great job defensively," said Illinois' Sergio McClain. "I think we just have an attitude that if the other team doesn't score, we have a chance to win."

Illinois proved its point during the next 10 minutes when Indiana managed just one basket and the Illini extended its lead to as much as 61-50 with 2:37 remaining.

Still, the Hoosiers clawed back.

Back-to-back three-point plays from Coverdale and Haston got the Hoosiers within 62-56. And after three missed free throws and an errant shot, Kyle Hornsby hit a 3-pointer to make it 65-61 with 32 seconds to go.

But the Illinois defense, which permitted only eight second-half baskets, didn't allow the Hoosiers to score again.

"They took away our cuts and everything we wanted to do," Indiana coach Mike Davis said. "Even when we played against, say Kentucky, we could go inside. But we couldn't get anything today.

"This is the best team we've played all season."