University of Illinois
6-0
EASTERN ILLINOIS
3-5
| Team | 1 | 2 | F |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eastern Illinois | 32 | 36 | 68 |
| Illinois | 38 | 42 | 80 |
No. 15 Illinois Knocks Off E. Illinois, 80-68.
December 10, 2002 | Men's Basketball
Dec 10, 2002
Final Stats?|? Notes
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) - Freshman Dee Brown scored 25 points - including 12 of 19 as Illinois took control early in the second half - and Brian Cook added 21 as the 15th-ranked Illini beat Eastern Illinois 80-68 Tuesday night.
The Illini (6-0) led by four points early in the second half, when they took advantage of six turnovers by Eastern Illinois (3-5) to extend their lead to 15. Brown had two 3-pointers during the surge, and was 5-of-8 from beyond the arc and 10-of-14 overall.
Henry Domercant, the nation's eighth-leading scorer at 25 points per game, had 30 for the Panthers. Domercant scored 14 points in the first 20 minutes, but went scoreless during a 10-minute stretch that included eight straight misses from the field.
Jesse Mackinson added 12 points for the Panthers.
Illinois led 38-32 at halftime behind Cook's 14 points and Roger Powell's 12. Powell finished with 16.
The Illini pushed the lead to 15 points with four minutes left in the first half with a 16-4 run. Cook had five points and Brown four in that stretch.
But the Panthers made nine free throws over the last four minutes of the first half to close to within six points.
Luther Head replaced Deron Williams in the starting lineup for Illinois. Williams sprained his ankle in practice Sunday, and was limited to just 15 minutes after averaging 26 in the first five games.
