No. 9 Illini Outlast Ohio State, 83-68 – Ohio State Buckeyes
1/6/2001 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Jan. 6, 2001
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CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) – Frank Williams scored 21 points as Illinois broke out%^$of its lingering shooting slump to beat Ohio State 83-68 on Saturday night.%^$
Williams scored 16 points in the second half, taking control of the Illini%^$offense after Ohio State tied it at 37 with 15:44 remaining.%^$
Illinois (12-3, 2-0 Big Ten) also got 13 points from forward Brian Cook,%^$including a pair of key 3-pointers in the second half, and 12 from Cory%^$Bradford.%^$
The Illini, who came in shooting 44 percent and ranked last in the Big Ten%^$in 3-point shooting, made 55 percent of their shots and were 9-of-19 from%^$3-point range.%^$
Ken Johnson and Brian Brown each scored 15 points to lead Ohio State (10-4,%^$1-1). Brent Darby added 14 for the Buckeyes, who shot just 35 percent for the%^$game.%^$
The 6-foot-11 Johnson never gave Illinois’ favorite target, center Marcus%^$Griffin, a clear look at the basket. But Griffin scored 10 points in the first%^$half on free throws and putbacks.%^$
The Illini double- and triple-teamed Johnson, holding him to just one point%^$in the first half.%^$
Illinois scored eight straight points for a 21-13 lead with 10:30 remaining%^$in the first period. The Buckeyes kept it close, but Williams hit a 3-pointer%^$just before the buzzer to give the Illini a 32-25 halftime lead.%^$
Ohio State opened the second half on a 12-5 run. Sean Connolly tied the game%^$at 37 on a 3-pointer from the corner with 15:44 left.%^$
The 6-foot-10 Cook, repeatedly left alone on the perimeter, twice hit%^$3-pointers as Illinois slowly rebuilt its lead. Cook’s second 3-pointer gave%^$the Illini a 55-46 lead with 10 minutes left.%^$
Another forward, Damir Krupalija, followed by drawing a charge and then%^$surprising the Buckeyes’ defense his own 3-pointer to make it 58-46 with 9:47%^$to go.%^$
Ohio State never got closer than eight points again. Sean Harrington made a%^$3-pointer with 3:14 to go that put Illinois ahead 72-57. Brown hit a short%^$jumper for Ohio State but Williams hit another 3-pointer to make it 75-59 with%^$2:04 remaining.%^$
Bradford, who finished with 12 points, has made a 3-pointer in 79 straight%^$games, extending an NCAA record he broke earlier this season.
