Nov. 19, 2004

Final Stats

By JIM PAUL
Associated Press Writer

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) - Dee Brown scored 17 points and No. 6 Illinois opened the season with an 87-67 victory over Delaware State on Friday night.

Brown hit 5-of-6 shots from the field - 4-of-5 from 3-point range - and was 3-for-3 from the free-throw line. He scored five straight points to key an 11-0 first-half run and had a 6-point outburst that ended a Delaware State rally early in the second half.

Trailing by 13 points at the half, the Hornets got within 55-46 with 15:43 to go. But a basket and free throw from Brown, followed by his 3-point shot 26 seconds later put Illinois up 61-46.

The Illini then held Delaware State (0-1) scoreless for the next 6:05 and were never threatened again.

Luther Head and James Augustine scored 15 points apiece, and Deron Williams had 12 for Illinois, which shot 64 percent from the floor. Williams added six assists and Augustine had seven rebounds.

The Hornets got 17 points from Jahsha Bluntt and 15 from reserve Bruce Davis, who was 4-of-5 from 3-point range.

Delaware State hit four of its first five shots and dropped its first four 3-pointers to take a 28-23 lead with 8:38 left in the first half. The Illini had to rely on the 3-point range of Head and Brown to keep pace, but began getting some inside shots to go.

A layup from Augustine and a dunk from Powell closed the gap to 28-27 and ignited a 15-2 run that included, five straight points from Brown to put Illinois up 32-28. The Illini led at the break, 50-37.