Feb. 26, 2003

Recap?|? Final Stats?|? Photo Gallery

• Illinois improves to 19-5 overall, 9-4 in Big Ten play. Tonight's victory also moves Illinois to within one victory of a 20-win season. One more win would give Illinois 20 wins for the fourth consecutive season and each season under Bill Self.

• Tonight's 26-point victory is the fourth largest margin of victory for Illinois over Indiana in series history, and is the largest margin of victory for the Illini in the series since 1914 when Illinois defeated the Hoosiers 35-6.

• Illinois has been dominant of late, especially at home. While Illinois is undefeated at the Assembly Hall (13-0), it's last three wins over Ohio State, Michigan State and Indiana have been by an average of 25.0 points per game.

• Not only has Illinois dominated at the Assembly Hall in its last-three contests, but they have taken care of business at home throughout the season. In Illinois' 13 home games, Illinois has won by at least 19 points in nine of them.

• Illinois committed five turnovers this evening, a season low. The previous best was eight, which was also committed against the Hoosiers on Jan. 18 in Bloomington.

• Illinois' ball handling also held the Hoosiers without a steal this evening. Conversely, Illinois had nine steals against Indiana, led by Sean Harrington who had three.

• Roger Powell was Illinois' top scorer for the second consecutive game. Powell scored a career-high 22 points on 9-of-13 shooting.

• While he has scored at least 20 points in back-to-back contests, Powell has been perfect during the first half of those last-two games. After going a perfect 6-of-6 from the floor scoring 16 points against Northwestern at the United Center on Feb. 22, the sophomore equaled that performance this evening going 6-of-6 again from the floor, scoring another 16 points.

• Brian Cook was also solid scoring 17 points while grabbing seven boards and dishing out three assists. Cook has now scored in double figures in 21-of-22 games this season.

• While he didn't get the point totals of Powell or Cook, freshman Deron Williams had a direct impact on their scoring performances. The Colony, Texas, native tied a career high with seven assists while committing zero turnovers.

• Illinois' defense was again outstanding holding Indiana to 36.5-percent shooting from the floor. This season Illinois has held its opponents to less than 40-percent shooting at the Assembly Hall in 10-of-13 games.

• Conversely, Illinois has been outstanding from the floor at home hitting 50 percent or better in 10-of-13 games.

• Illinois won the rebounding war by 17 this evening led by Roger Powell and Brian Cook who each recorded seven. The 24 rebounds by Indiana was a season low and the +17 margin by Illinois tied the Illini's second-largest rebounding margin of the year.