Nov. 18, 2005

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CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) - This was not the smooth, methodical effort that Illinois became known for last season.

The 17th-ranked Illini beat South Dakota State 90-65 Friday night, but they had to overcome some sloppy play to do it.

Illinois committed 20 turnovers, a number reached only twice during its 39-game run to the national title game last April. But with three starters gone from a lineup that started 42 consecutive games together, the new Illini are still getting to know each other on the court.

"I think we hurried at times," Illinois coach Bruce Weber said. "I think guys were trying to make plays instead of letting the defense make mistakes and taking advantage of it when they do."

Brown scored 19 points and James Augustine had 18 points and 14 rebounds as Illinois (1-0) won its 22nd consecutive home game. But the turnovers have to go, said Brown who committed a team-high six himself.

"We've got to take care of the basketball," he said. "I think that was one of our biggest strengths last year."

Champaign native Steve Holdren had the best game of his career, leading the Jackrabbits (1-2) with 28 points and six rebounds.

"It was fun to get out in front of all my friends and family, but I'm a little upset with the outcome," he said. "I wanted to come in here and compete and we didn't really do that, I don't think."

South Dakota State committed 21 turnovers and its two best big men were in foul trouble all night. Ben Beran, who added 11 points, and Mohammed Berte both fouled out with more than 5 minutes to go.

"They're just so big and for us not to have those two guys on the floor and play small like we did, it just doesn't give us much of a shot," said coach Scott Nagy, a Champaign native himself who was a graduate assistant for Illinois' 1989 Final Four team.

Augustine and Shaun Pruitt, who scored 15 points, were able to have their way inside with Beran and Berte limited to a combined 38 minutes on the court.

"We obviously had the size," Augustine said. "We want to get our inside guys touches so we can kick it back outside to the guards. The guards did a good job of getting it in there, making good passes."

But while there bursts of brilliance, there also were moments of mediocrity.

"There were points in the first half where two bigs would just go stand in the post and that's not what we want," Augustine said.

South Dakota State led twice early, but Illinois used an 8-0 run to take a 15-10 lead with 14:41 to go in the first half. Even though the Jackrabbits scored the next five points to tie the score, Illinois never trailed again.

The Illini put the game away with a 13-4 run to close out the first half after South Dakota State closed a 10-point Illinois lead to 33-28 with 6:29 to go on Holdren's 3-pointer and a layup by Andre Gilbert.

Augustine and Brown hit free throws, then Pruitt got a basket and Calvin Brock had a pair of free throws to give the Illini a 38-29 lead with 3:15 to go. Illinois led 46-32 at the break.