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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) -- Sean Harrington's timing couldn't be
better.
With No. 8 Illinois dragging from jet lag and playing its fourth
game in seven days, the reserve guard scored a career-high 17
points to lead the Illini over Texas Southern 86-57 on Sunday.
Harrington's big day punctuated a big week for the Illini (4-1),
who beat UNLV and No. 6 Maryland before falling by three points to
Arizona (No. 2 ESPN/USA Today, No. 2 AP) in the Maui Invitational final Wednesday.
"We were a half step slow," Illinois coach Bill Self said.
The Illini were still fast enough to handle Texas Southern
(0-3), which shot 34 percent and managed just seven assists.
Harrington was 6-for-6 shooting, including five 3-pointers.
"When you get the open looks, you've got to knock them down,"
Harrington said. "I was feeling pretty good, but the guys were
giving me the ball in spots where I could score."
Illinois got solid contributions from most of its regulars,
including 16 points and eight rebounds from center Marcus Griffin.
He dominated the smaller Tigers inside all day.
"They let the dogs out on us early on," said Texas Southern
coach Robert Moreland.
Illinois used a 13-0 run to move ahead 18-6, but Chris Miller's
shooting kept Texas Southern in the game.
Miller's fourth 3-pointer got the Tigers within 20-16 with 10:29
left in the half. That was the closest they got.
Griffin and Robert Archibald combined for 13 points in the paint
as Illinois closed the half with a 19-6 run for a 49-29 lead.
The Illini stretched the lead to 70-40 with 11 minutes left on
three consecutive 3-pointers by Harrington.
The Tigers didn't let Illinois pile on.
Miller stopped getting open 3-point chances so the Tigers tried
to go inside when the Illini switched to a smaller lineup.
Texas Southern hit 11 free throws during a 23-8 run to draw
within 78-63 with 4:11 remaining but never had a chance to catch
up.
"We start some people who never played college basketball
before a week ago," Moreland said. "We just wanted to introduce
them to some real college basketball so, hopefully, we'll be better
down the line."
Miller finished with 18 points and seven rebounds for Texas
Southern. Ricky Bennett added 13 points and Steve Hoyer 11.
The easy win was not enough for Self, who was concerned about
his team's lack of focus. Some Illini players showed up Sunday not
expecting to spend much sweat on Texas Southern, the coach said.
"You want your team to have that confidence, but you also want
your team to have that edge," Self said. "I don't think we played
with that edge today."
Self wanted to hear no excuses, especially not that the Illini
are in the midst of playing five games in eight days -- a gauntlet
featuring three ranked opponents. That stretch ends Tuesday in
Greensboro, N.C., against No. 2 Duke, which could be No. 1 after
Arizona lost Saturday to Purdue.
"That's just mind over matter," Self said. "If your brain
tells your body it's tired, you're tired. If your brain says you're
not, you're fine. We can rest when we're done with Duke."
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ALSO SEE
Mens College Basketball Scoreboard
Texas Southern Clubhouse
Illinois Clubhouse
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