Post-Game Notes - University of Illinois Athletics

Jan. 22, 2003

Illinois' team defense was again outstanding as they held Purdue to 32.8 percent shooting for the game and 28.6 percent shooting in the second half. That shooting percentage by the Boilermakers was the fourth best field goal percentage defense by Illinois this season.

In addition to holding Purdue to under 33 percent shooting from the floor, Illinois held the Boilermakers to 3-of-16 (18.8 percent) shooting from beyond the arc. In Big Ten contests, Illinois is holding its opponents to 15-of-74 shooting from three-point range (20.2 percent).

Illinois scored 75 points on the evening with all but six of those points coming from the starting five. Nick Smith scored all six bench points this evening.

Leading the defensive charge was freshman Deron Williams. Williams, who guarded Purdue's leading scorer Willie Deane most of the night, held the Big Ten's second leading scorer to 14 points, eight of which came from the free throw line.

Williams continued his outstanding night by scoring 11 points and dishing out a career-high tying seven assists. Williams also grabbed a career high seven rebounds.

Sophomore Luther Head scored a season high 15 points, nine of which came on a career-high tying three 3-pointers. Head also grabbed a season-high tying five rebounds.

Making his 100th career start, Brian Cook topped the 20-point mark for the 10th time this season and for the seventh time in his last eight games. In addition to hitting 6-of-10 shots from the floor, the senior hit 9-of-11 free throws upping his season free throw percentage to 81.0 percent.

Cook's 21 points also give him 1,445 point for his career and moved him into 11th on the all-time Illinois scoring list, ahead of current New York Knick Frank Williams.

Players Mentioned

Brian Cook

Luther Head

Nick Smith

Deron Williams

Frank Williams

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