Dec. 28, 2007

Box Score |  Photo Gallery 

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) -- Brian Randle scored 17 points and Shaun Pruitt added 16 points and 11 rebounds to give Illinois a 77-43 victory over Loyola of Maryland on Friday night.

The Illini (8-4), coming off a 59-58 win against Missouri last Saturday, showed signs early of the six-day layoff, falling behind 5-0. But they scored 12 unanswered points, highlighted by back-to-back 3-pointers from Chester Frazier and Demetri McCamey.

They never looked back.

Gerald Brown led Loyola (5-7) with 16 points and three rebounds. Brian Rudolph had six points for the Greyhounds, who remain winless on the road after shooting just 15.2 percent from the field in the first half.

Illinois shot 33.3 percent from the field on 11-of-33 shooting in the first half, but was 6-of-7 from the free-throw line, an area where the team consistently struggles, and led 31-18 at halftime.

At the beginning of the second half, Illinois head coach Bruce Weber pleaded with his team to "get some emotion." The Illini responded, reeling off five straight points before putting the game out of reach.