Feb 21, 2004

Box Score

By DAN LEWERENZ

Associated Press Writer

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) - Dee Brown hit six three 3-pointers, including three in a crucial second-half run, to help Illinois hold off a second-half rally and beat Penn State 66-58 on Saturday.

Penn State (9-14, 3-9 Big Ten) opened the second half with a 14-5 run, taking the lead on Aaron Johnson's 3-pointer and going up 34-31 on Marlon Smith's layup with 15 minutes left.

The lead changed five times in the next 5 1/2 minutes, but the Illini (18-5, 9-3) went up for good on a three-point play by Deron Williams. Brown hit 3-pointers on three consecutive possessions, the last making it 50-43 with 6:55 left.

The Nittany Lions stayed in the game by hitting 12 free throws in the last 8 1/2 minutes, but could not pull ahead again. Jan Jagla's fade-away jumper with 2:17 left got Penn State within 62-56, but they would get no closer.

Brown led four Illini in double figures, scoring 24 points. Luther Head scored 14, Williams scored 12 and Roger Powell had 10.

Smith led Penn State with 16 points, Ben Luber scored 14 and Jagla had 10.

Illinois held Penn State scoreless for more than four minutes in the first half, using an inside jumper by Nick Smith and a Brown 3-pointer to turn a 10-10 tie into a 15-10 lead. Illinois pushed its lead to 20-13 after 3-pointer from Williams, but the Nittany Lions pulled within 26-20 by halftime.