Jan 4, 2003

Final Stats

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) - Illinois coach Bill Self believes his team is ready for the start of Big Ten play.

The No. 11 Illini beat Oakland 88-53 on Saturday in their final tuneup before conference play begins. They shot 60 percent from the field, dished out a season-high 25 assists and held the nation's third-leading scorer, Mike Helms, to 16 points.

"I'm not saying we're playing great, but I like the way we're playing," Self said. "We're sharing the ball, and we have a decent feel with what were trying to get done. I like the attitude and the way they're playing going into conference."

Big Ten leading scorer Brian Cook had 22 points and 11 rebounds and Sean Harrington tied a career-high with 20 points, including five 3-pointers.

"I'm very comfortable, especially with teammates like this who can get me the ball," Cook said. "You have Sean out there shooting it, Dee (Brown) and Deron (Williams) slashing, and James (Augustine) can shoot it at the high post, too."

Harrington went 5-of-9 from 3-point range. He entered the game shooting 52 percent from beyond the arc - second in the Big Ten - and has made 13 of his last 19 field-goal attempts.

"When all I've got to do is stand on the wing, or in the corner and set my feet, and I've got Dee and Deron penetrating and getting me shots, my job is pretty easy," Harrington said.

The Illini (10-1) opened the second half with a 14-2 run, including six points from Cook, to extend their lead from 12 to 24 with under 15 minutes to play. Brown took over from there, scoring nine points in a three-minute span.

Helms entered the game averaging 26.5 points per game but went 6-of-22 from the floor as Oakland (5-6) dropped its third straight. Oakland shot just 34 percent from the field.

"Williams did a very nice job on Mike," Oakland coach Greg Kampe said. "Mike can usually get around anybody, but he couldn't get around him."

Rawle Marshall scored 22 to lead the Grizzlies, who were just 6-of-19 from the free-throw line.

"I'm embarrassed by the game," Kampe said. "The last 10 minutes were awful. I thought we quit."

Harrington led the Illinois charge before the half, hitting four 3-pointers while Cook added eight points and eight rebounds. Williams pushed the first-half lead to seven with consecutive layups in a 20-second span. Then Harrington added two 3-pointers during a 14-4 run that ended with a Williams dunk, extending Illinois' lead to 34-19. The Illini led 38-26 at halftime.

"It's a new season now," said Cook, who blocked his first shot of the season after entering the year fourth all-time at Illinois in blocks. "The Big Ten's starting and we have to get better each game."

Illinois played without sophomores Luther Head and Roger Powell for the second consecutive game. Powell has an injured toe and Head has an injured pelvis.