Jan 7, 2004

Final Stats

By JIM PAUL
Associated Press Writer

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - Reserve Nick Smith scored a career-high 22 points without missing a shot and No. 19 Illinois opened its Big Ten season with an 85-63 win over Ohio State on Wednesday night.

Smith, a 7-foot-2 center, was 6-for-6 from the field, including one 3-pointer, and went 9-for-9 from the free throw line. He grabbed nine rebounds.

Dee Brown scored 16 points for Illinois, which ran its Assembly Hall record to 43-1 over the past four seasons. Richard McBride and Roger Powell each scored 11 points each for the Illini (10-2).

Terrance Dials had 11 points for Ohio State (8-6, 0-1), while Tony Stockman added 10. The Buckeyes never recovered from a first half in which they went 6-of-21 from the field.

The Illini outscored the Buckeyes 30-8 over a 12-minute span of the first half to go up 37-13. Ohio State went on a 27-14 run and trimmed the Illini lead to 53-42 with 12:47 to go in the game.

But McBride's 3-pointer started a 9-0 run that put the Illini up 62-42 with 9:51 remaining. Ohio State never got closer than 17 points.

The Buckeyes were ice-cold in the first half, going without a field goal over a 7:39 stretch. They scored seven of their last 11 points of the half from the foul line and trailed 39-22 at halftime.

Illinois played without starter Luther Head, who was arrested by Champaign police Tuesday for driving with a suspended license. His status for Saturday's game against Purdue was unclear, an Illini spokesman said.