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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. (AP) – Illinois had too many weapons, too much
depth and too much defense for Indiana on Saturday.
The Hoosiers couldn't withstand the combination.
|  | | The Illini's Robert Archibald came off the bench and finished with 11 points and eight rebounds in his team's win over Indiana on Saturday. |
Brian Cook scored 16 points, Frank Williams added 14 and the
Illini defense stopped the Hoosiers' inside game as it held on for
a 67-61 victory.
"I think the difference in the game was our bench," Illinois
coach Bill Self said. "If anything, I think the course of time, it
had to fatigue the Indiana starters. Three of our starters had off
nights, but our bench won the game for us."
Just as it has been doing all season.
The Illini (No. 5 ESPN/USA Today, No. 4 AP, 21-5, 11-2 Big Ten) have won five straight games –
the longest streak in Big Ten play this season, and four straight
against the Hoosiers
And once again, the Illini's depth not only wore down an
opponent, it flat out beat it. The Illinois bench outscored
Indiana's 30-5 and outrebounded it 20-2.
Then it turned the game over to a defense that ranks No. 1 in
the Big Ten in field-goal percentage allowed. On Saturday, Illinois
limited the Hoosiers to just 35.2 percent shooting and forced the
Hoosiers to take their shots from long range.
"They were very physical inside, which was why we took a lot of
outside shots," said Tom Coverdale, who had 16 points for the
Hoosiers. "We kept going inside in the second half and getting
fouls."
But it didn't seem to matter.
Illinois just ran in more players – Cook, Marcus Griffin, Robert
Archibald, Damir Krupalija and Lucas Johnson. Each produced.
Archibald finished with 11 points and eight rebounds, while
Johnson had eight points and Krupalija had six points and seven
rebounds.
It was exactly what the Illini wanted to against the Hoosiers,
who have relied on the inside punch of Kirk Haston and Jared
Jeffries much of the season. Haston finished with 18 points and
Jeffries 16, but most of their scoring came from outside.
"The bench guys really pride ourselves on going out there and
keeping up the energy," Johnson said. "We want to keep things
going."
They certainly managed to make an impact Saturday.
After clinging to a 28-27 halftime lead, Illinois seemingly took
control after a 6-0 mini-run when Sean Harrington hit a 3-pointer
and Krupalija put in a layup. That gave Illinois a 41-33 lead with
13:56 left.
The Hoosiers (16-10, 7-5) scored the next four points, but then
the Illinois defense stepped up.
"I think we did a great job defensively," said Illinois'
Sergio McClain. "I think we just have an attitude that if the
other team doesn't score, we have a chance to win."
Illinois proved its point during the next 10 minutes when
Indiana managed just one basket and the Illini extended its lead to
as much as 61-50 with 2:37 remaining.
Still, the Hoosiers clawed back.
Back-to-back three-point plays from Coverdale and Haston got the
Hoosiers within 62-56. And after three missed free throws and an
errant shot, Kyle Hornsby hit a 3-pointer to make it 65-61 with 32
seconds to go.
But the Illinois defense, which permitted only eight second-half
baskets, didn't allow the Hoosiers to score again.
"They took away our cuts and everything we wanted to do,"
Indiana coach Mike Davis said. "Even when we played against, say
Kentucky, we could go inside. But we couldn't get anything today.
"This is the best team we've played all season."
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ALSO SEE
Men's College Basketball Scoreboard
Illinois Clubhouse
Indiana Clubhouse
AUDIO/VIDEO
 Illinois' Brian Cook gets the inside position and puts the ball in off the glass.
avi: 660 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
Illinois' Sean Harrington gets the board and forces the outlet pass to Damir Krupalija for the hoop.
avi: 741 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
Indiana's Tom Coverdale hits Jared Jeffries on a nice cut to the hoop for the jam.
avi: 817 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
Indiana's Jared Jeffries posts up on the Illinois' defense for the hoop.
avi: 1002 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
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