Feb 9, 2002

Final Stats?|? Photo Gallery

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

Post-game audio:
Coach Bill Self - AUDIO
Cory Bradford, Brian Cook and Robert Archibald - AUDIO

By JASON STRAIT
Associated Press Writer

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) - Bill Self got what he expected from No. 21 Illinois and Frank Williams for 8 minutes. He's still waiting to see it for an entire game.

The Illini fell far behind before storming back and holding Purdue scoreless for an 8-minute stretch in the second half. Illinois outscored the Boilermakers 17-0 during that time - including eight points by Williams - and withstood a late Purdue rally to hold on for the 69-67 victory on Saturday.

Self was pleased with the win, but is still frustrated by the enigmatic Williams - who is spectacular at times, but very mediocre at others.

"I'm not pleased at all," Self said. "He's trying to do the so-called right thing, but the right is for him to play like he played those six or seven minutes in the second half. Once again, he was not a factor in the first half at all."

Neither was Illinois (17-7, 6-5 Big Ten), who trailed by 18 with 6:56 left before halftime. Williams took one shot in the first half and had one point, two assists and two turnovers.

As bad as Williams and Illinois were in the first half, they were just as good in the second.

Williams hit his first field goal during the 17-0 run and scored six straight points for the Illini, the last a drive to the basket that gave Illinois its first lead since being up 3-2.

"Frank really turned it up in the second half. When he wants to play, he's tough to stop," Purdue guard Austin Parkinson said.

Purdue (11-14, 3-8) didn't help itself from the free-throw line, where they were 13-of-22, compared to 20-of-26 for Illinois.

"The first half, we played probably our best half of the year," Purdue coach Gene Keady said. "It was the free throws that cost us."

Brian Cook led Illinois with 16 points, including two key 3-pointers in the second half. Cory Bradford added 12 points on 5-for-15 shooting for the Illini.

Williams, who didn't speak with reporters after the game, finished with 13 points and six rebounds, but turned the ball over four times and had two assists.

Purdue, which trailed by eight with 2 minutes to go, closed to two on back-to-back driving layups by Willie Deane.

The Boilermakers had a chance to win after forcing Williams' turnover, but Joe Marshall's 3-pointer at the buzzer rimmed out.

Purdue jumped out to a 24-7 lead on a 3-pointer by reserve Maynard Lewis and led by as many as 18 with 6:56 left in the half. Seven of the Boilermakers' first 10 field goals were from beyond the 3-point line, including two apiece for Deane and Lewis.

The Boilermakers shot 67 percent in the first half, but went cold after halftime and finished at 47 percent for the game. They also committed 17 turnovers.

"When they went into their press, we did a poor job of taking care of the ball," Deane said.

Deane led Purdue with 20 points on 7-for-17 shooting and had four assists. Rodney Smith added 12 points for the Boilermakers.

The Illini, who fell behind Michigan by 13 points in their last game before coming back to win by eight, say they aren't sure why they continue to start slow.

Illinois has trailed at halftime in four of its last five games.

"We don't really like it. We'd rather start out fast and go from there," Cook said.