Dec 30, 2003

Box Score

By RICK GANO
AP Sports Writer

CHICAGO (AP) - A quick start got Illinois a comfortable lead and the 20th-ranked Illini used their long arms and inside rebounding strength to coast past Illinois-Chicago 75-60 Tuesday night.

"We knew they would come in with a lot of fight and we tried to jump on them," Illinois guard Dee Brown said.

"I think our size was a factor. They couldn't make layups early, they couldn't get the layups to drop," Illini coach Bruce Weber said. "I think on defense our aggressiveness, our trapping and our deflections allowed us to get the early lead."

Using a 19-4 run, the Illini (8-2) raced to a 32-14 lead midway through the first half and beat UIC for the 11th time in 12 meetings.

Illinois had a 52-34 rebounding edge and also blocked 11 shots, throwing the Flames' offense into disarray.

"They took us out of everything," UIC coach Jimmy Collins said. "We weren't quick enough or big enough to make anything happen. They're a good team and we knew that. Illinois is big and well-coached."

UIC (9-4) was playing in the United Center for the first time ever, even though its campus is only a mile away. Illinois is now 23-6 at the building where it has often played well, especially in the Big Ten tournament.

"It's still a game, whether it's played on the playground or in the kitchen," UIC's Armond Williams said.

Luther Head and James Augustine each scored 13 points for the Illini, while Brian Randle had 11 rebounds.

Williams scored 14 to pace UIC. Cedric Banks, the Flames' leading scorer, had nine, well under his 19.6 average, as Illinois played strong defense on him and quick point guard Martell Bailey, who had just three points and two assists.

"We knew Cedric can score and Martell can lead and we did a good job of containing them," said Brown, who scored only four points but had nine assists and six rebounds for the Illini.

Head hit three 3-pointers and the Illini shot 53 percent in the first half to take a 44-27 lead. Roger Powell, who finished with a game-high 17 points, led the Illini with 13 points and seven rebounds in the first half.

UIC missed 20 of its first 27 shots and made only 11 of 38 in the half - 29 percent. For the game, the Flames were 24-of-67 (36 percent).

"It was bad shots that hurt us," Collins said.

UIC got within 13 in the second half, but Augustine hit a hook from the lane and then converted a thunderous dunk on a fastbreak pass from Brown as the Illini regained control and eventually built the lead to 21 points.

Illinois has won four straight and has one remaining non-conference game, against Illinois State, before beginning Big Ten play on Jan. 7, against Ohio State.