March 1, 2003

Box Score

By JOHN PORRETTO
Associated Press Writer

ANN ARBOR, Mich. - Brian Cook had the numbers for Illinois. Roger Powell was the difference.

Cook, one of the players mentioned most prominently for Big Ten Player of the Year honors, had 26 points and seven rebounds to lead the 18th-ranked Illini to an 82-79 victory over Michigan on Saturday that moved them into a tie for first place in the conference.

Powell had 18 points, but it was his stingy defense and two key rebounds in the closing minute that helped Illinois to its fourth consecutive victory.

"Roger's playing great," Cook said. "He even took a few rebounds away from me. We need that to continue from him. He gives us a whole new dimension."

"We're a different team today than we were against Purdue (Illini's last loss on Feb. 15). I don't know what's happened but lights clicked on, and I think Roger is a big part of that. He was terrific again today." -- Illinois coach Bill Self

After Michigan's LaVell Blanchard scored 16 points in the first half as the Wolverines took a 46-44 lead, Illinois coach Bill Self turned to Powell to blanket the senior forward in the second half.

Blanchard, who led Michigan with 25 points, had far fewer open looks at the basket.

"I just didn't leave him," said Powell, a sophomore forward. "I stuck to him like Velcro."

Blanchard said his career-high seven 3-pointers was little consolation.

"It wasn't enough," he said. "I needed one or two more."

The Illini (20-5, 10-4) posted their seventh straight win over the Wolverines, who lost at home for the first time this season in a game that had eight ties and 22 lead changes.

In January, Illinois beat Michigan 67-60 to snap the Wolverines' 13-game winning streak.

Illinois moved into a tie for first with Wisconsin, which plays at Minnesota on Sunday. The Illini play at Wisconsin on Wednesday.

Powell has scored 70 points in the last four games. He had a total of 38 points in the previous 10 conference games.

James Augustine, left, blocks a shot during the Illini's win over Michigan.

"We're a different team today than we were against Purdue," Self said, referring to his team's last loss on Feb. 15. "I don't know what's happened but lights clicked on, and I think Roger is a big part of that. He was terrific again today."

Illinois trailed 69-64 midway through the second half before Cook scored eight of Illinois' next 11 points for a 75-70 lead.

Freshman Chris Hunter then made consecutive three-point plays to give the Wolverines (16-11, 9-5) a 76-75 lead with 1:58 left.

Dee Brown hit a 12-foot jumper with 1:20 remaining to give Illinois the lead for good. Michigan missed its next three shots.

The Wolverines were coming off their most lopsided loss of the season, a 73-42 trouncing at the hands of Wisconsin that had dropped them into a second-place tie with Illinois.

Despite the loss the Wolverines remain in the hunt to win their first Big Ten regular-season championship in 17 years. They play at Penn State on Wednesday and finish the season at home against Purdue.

"I thought we played with a lot of heart," Michigan coach Tommy Amaker said. "It was certainly disappointing, especially here at home and the position we could have possibly been in. Illinois is just the class of our league right now."

Freshman Lester Abram added 16 points for Michigan and Daniel Horton had 12.

Illinois opened the second half with a 9-3 run to take a 53-49 lead. But Michigan responded as the game's pace quickened - and Illinois went cold.

Blanchard's 3-pointer with 11:43 remaining capped a 14-4 run that gave the Wolverines a 63-57 lead.

Michigan grabbed its biggest lead of the first half at 44-37 on a short jumper by Blanchard with 2:19 remaining. Cook scored four of his 15 first-half points in the final two minutes, including a jumper with 2 seconds left, to cut Michigan's lead to 46-44.