Box Score Jan. 12, 2005
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By JIM PAUL
Associated Press Writer
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) - Luther Head's eyes lit up as soon as he saw Penn
State was playing zone defense.
He finished with five of top-ranked Illinois' school-record 15 3-pointers
and scored 19 points in a 90-64 victory on Wednesday night that tied the school
record for consecutive wins at 17.
Dee Brown also has five 3s and finished with 15 points for the Illini (17-0,
3-0 Big Ten).
The record winning streak was set by the 1988-89 team that was the last from
Illinois to reach the Final Four. Illinois also became the 15th Division I
school to reach 1,500 victories.
"When teams play zone, there's always open shots for me, Dee and Deron
(Williams)," Head said. "We just like to step up and try to show these teams
that we are good shooters."
The Illini took control with a 16-0 first-half run, built their lead to 16
points at halftime and were up 90-60 with 1:57 to go.
Penn State (6-10, 0-3) lost its fourth straight game. Coach Ed DeChellis
left without talking to reporters so his team could beat a line of
thunderstorms out of town.
"We're honored to be mentioned in the same sentence as the Flyin' Illini,"
Williams said, referring to the 1988-89 team. "To be up there with them is
great because that's probably the greatest team we've had in the history of
Illinois basketball."
The Illini can set the record Saturday with a win at Northwestern, which
lost 71-61 at Michigan on Wednesday.
Illinois finished 15-of-34 from 3-point range, breaking the old record of 14
3s set in 1996.
"One of the things I have done is put in a little extra time with 3s,"
coach Bruce Weber said. "We struggled a couple games around Christmas (and) I
told the coaches 'Let's get some extra 3s in."'
When Weber stresses long shots in practice, the team finds it easy to shoot
them in games.
Head hit the two early as he scored 10 of the Illini's first 12 points.
Brown and Williams then hit 3-pointers on consecutive shots to start the
game-turning run that gave Illinois control.
It was the fourth game this season the Illini have had at least 10
3-pointers.
"It's definitely one of our strengths and a positive weapon," Weber said.
The Illini shot 57 percent from the field while holding Penn State to 43
percent and they had assists on 26 of 34 baskets. Williams had 12 assists and
Brown had six.
Williams scored 11 points and James Augustine added 10 points and seven
rebounds.
Geary Claxton scored 16 points for the Nittany Lions, while Ben Luber and
Aaron Johnson each had 11 and Travis Parker 10.
The Nittany Lions kept pace with Head's early shooting and had a 10-8 lead
with 15:31 to go in the first half.
But the 3-pointers from Brown and Williams broke a 12-12 tie and helped send
the Ilini to a 28-12 lead with 9:36 to go.
Penn State's Mike Walker finally hit a 3-pointer to stop a 4:24 scoring
drought, but Illinois outscored Penn State 13-8 from there and led 41-25 at
halftime.
