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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) -- There was no letdown this time.
Criticized by fans and its coach for being flat in its last
game, Illinois (No. 7 ESPN/USA Today, No. 9 AP) used 40 minutes of suffocating defense to beat
Wisconsin-Milwaukee 85-44 Wednesday night.
|  | | Illinois' Robert Archibald gets a pass off as Wisconsin-Milwaukee's Chad Angeli looks on. |
The Illini (6-2) forced the Panthers into bad shot after bad
shot, and they made just 22 percent of them. Coupled with 17
turnovers, nine of them on Illinois steals, Wisconsin-Milwaukee
(5-3) was overwhelmed.
"It's hard to simulate that kind of presence defensively in
terms of preparation," Wisconsin-Milwaukee coach Bo Ryan said.
Even when the Illini went deep into their bench in the second
half, Wisconsin-Milwaukee could not find a way to score.
"The defense was good," said Illinois coach Bill Self, who was
wearing a wide grin for a lot of reasons.
Last Saturday, Self was not pleased after a 76-56 win over
Kansas State.
In addition to this big defensive effort, Self got a season-best
17 points from Brian Cook and an aggressive 13 points and four
assists from Cory Bradford -- two starters who have struggled thus
far.
"Making that first quick basket was a big plus," Cook said.
"It raised my confidence and I just started shooting it after
that. I was having fun out there. I was trying to get out of this
little funk I was in."
The 41-point rout was the biggest margin for Illinois since
beating Bethune-Cookman by 50 on Dec. 28, 1999.
It was the worst shooting performance ever by a visiting team in
Assembly Hall. The Panthers also missed nine of 20 free throws.
"We really guarded the entire shot clock," Self said. "That
was the best defense we've played all year."
Cook and Bradford repeatedly drove into the crowded lane and
overpowered the smaller Panthers early. Then, when the Panthers
adjusted and tried to close off the lane, the Illini made the extra
passes hit the open jumpers and 3-pointers.
"We had a pretty good scouting report," Ryan said.
"Everything we told the players that Illinois was going to do they
did, and we didn't stop it. When you're not as big, not as deep and
not as experienced, you get overwhelmed and it's hard to play from
behind."
The Panthers' last lead was 8-7, about seven minutes into the
game, but the Illini outscored them 30-10 the rest of the period.
Illinois opened the second half with a 27-10 run for a 64-28
lead with 10:50 left. From there, Self nearly emptied his bench.
"The goal was not to give in on defense, ever," Bradford said.
Wisconsin-Milwaukee got 16 points from Clay Tucker and 10 from
Dan Weisse. James Wright had eight rebounds.
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ALSO SEE
Mens College Basketball Scoreboard
Wisconsin-Milwaukee Clubhouse
Illinois Clubhouse
AUDIO/VIDEO
 Illinois' Cory Bradford rifles the pass to Brian Cook for the slam.
avi: 892 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
Illinois' Robert Archibald slams down the inbound pass.
avi: 934 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
Wisconsin-Milwaukee's James Wright is wide open under the hoop for the slam.
avi: 730 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
Wisconsin-Milwaukee's James Wright tips in the Chad Angeli miss.
avi: 580 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
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