Box Score Nov. 19, 2005
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Offensive Coordinator Mike Locksley
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QB Tim Brasic
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WR Kendrick Jones
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DT Ryan Matha
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LB Brit Miller
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LB J Leman
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WR Derrick McPhearson
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) - Pierre Thomas finished with 97 yards on 18 carries and Tim Brasic finished the day 20-of-35 for 241 yards as Illinois fell to Northwestern, 38-21, on Saturday. Basanez, making his 39th consecutive start, became the third Big Ten quarterback to pass for more than 10,000 yards in his career.
Basanez threw for 240 yards and Tyrell Sutton ran for 212 as Northwestern handed Illinois its ninth straight loss. He also rushed for 85 yards and two touchdowns as the Wildcats' league-leading offense rolled up three dozen first downs and gained 596 yards.
Northwestern (7-4, 5-3) reached seven victories for the first time since it shared the Big Ten championship in 2000 and can look forward to a bowl game next month. Illinois finishes 2-9 overall and 0-8 in conference play.
Illinois, which hadn't scored a touchdown in two games, gained 440 yards against Northwestern's defense, ranked last in the Big Ten.
Pierre Thomas gave the Illini their first score on a 1-yard run with 11:52 to go in the second quarter and Tim Brasic threw a pair of 27-yard TD passes, to Jason Davis and Derrick McPhearson.
But Basanez and Sutton had their way most of the day. Sutton carried 34 times while Basanez was 25-of-31, including a 9-yard TD pass to Frayne Abernathy.
Joel Howell's added a late 19-yard field goal to give Northwestern a 24-21 lead at the break.
Northwestern pulled some trickery when it was faced with a 4th-and-5 at the Illinois 28 in the third quarter. With kicker Joel Howells on the field as a decoy, the Wildcats caught the Illini off-guard by snapping the ball to up back Mark Philmore, who quickly gave it to Gerard Hamlett while faking a run to the left. Hamlett went the other way untouched for a touchdown that gave Northwestern a 31-21 lead.
Illinois threatened to answer in its next drive, but Brasic was intercepted by defensive tackle Barry Cofield at the Wildcats 9.
Basanez added his second TD of the day with an 8-yard run with 6:50 to go in the game.
