Feb 7, 2002

Box Score

Illini Wrap - VIDEO | AUDIO
courtesy of WCIA-TV, Channel 3, Champaign

By LARRY LAGE
AP Sports Writer

ANN ARBOR, Mich. - Illinois couldn't possibly answer all of its critics in one night. The Illini, however, tried.

Brian Cook scored 19 points, including his team's first dozen, and No. 21 Illinois beat Michigan 68-60 Thursday night to end a three-game losing streak.

The Illini (16-7, 5-5 Big Ten) won in an opponent's gym for the first time this season by overcoming a 13-point first-half deficit and another lackluster effort from Frank Williams.

Many believed the Illini were going to be one of the country's top teams this season, but a lack of consistent effort, injuries and Williams' often uninspired play has added up to a disappointing season.

"It's been baffling to us too," center Robert Achibald admitted.

The Illini dived for loose balls - once causing a head-to-head collision between Cook and Lucas Johnson - and played with intensity after a slow start.

"I don't think it could've been scripted any better," Illinois coach Bill Self said.

Williams, who announced before the season that he was entering the NBA draft after his junior year, didn't score until 17:09 was left in the game, then didn't score again for nearly 12 minutes.

Williams finished with 10 points on 2-of-7 shooting, and often appeared disinterested, following a trend that even his own coach has bemoaned.

However, Self defended Williams after the game by saying there isn't a player in the country that gives 100-percent effort in every game.

Williams doesn't really care what his critics are saying.

"I really don't go off what people say about me," Williams said. "I know what I do out there and my players know what I do out there."

Williams made two free throws to give Illinois a 59-57 lead with 3:08 left in the game, the 10th and final lead change in the second half alone. There were also six ties after halftime.

The Illini outscored Michigan 11-3 over the final few minutes.

Leon Jones led the Wolverines (9-11, 4-6) with 14 points, while LaVell Blanchard and Dommanic Ingerson each had 10.

"Sometimes the team that deserves to win, doesn't win," Michigan coach Tommy Amaker said. "And I firmly believe our team deserved to win."

The Wolverines might have won if they could have continued to play well after their solid start.

Michigan took a 27-14 lead and would have led by even more if not for Cook.

Illinois outscored the Wolverines 18-3 over the final five minutes of the half to take a 32-30 lead.

Self said that run started after Ingerson, a Michigan freshman, tried to play rough with Johnson, Illinois' gritty senior.

"I got hit, that's all I know," Johnson said. "I don't know if it was a punch or an elbow, intentional or not. I got hit in the throat by something. It was nice that it happened because we rallied around it."

Ingerson said he was just retaliating to Johnson.

"The guy hit me and I got him off me," Ingerson said. "He tried to push me around, but I'm not going to back down from anybody. I didn't throw a punch."