Illini defense secures win over Wildcats

EVANSTON, Ill. - The Illini exploited one of the Wildcats' greatest liabilities Wednesday.

With a 40-16 advantage on the boards, Illinois won 58-43 over Northwestern at Welsh-Ryan Arena, moving to 6-5 in Big Ten play and surpassing the .500 mark in conference play for the first time this season.

"Obviously, the defense was the key," head coach Bruce Weber said. "I think we have a good feel of how to guard (Northwestern). We didn't have that feel the first time we played them here four years ago.

"Slowly, but surely, you figure it out."

And slowly, but surely, things are changing for the better for the Illini (18-8).

The Illini, playing with a full complement of players Wednesday, including Chester Frazier, have held opponents to just 56 points over the last seven games.

Junior center Shaun Pruitt had a game-high 15 rebounds (13 points), while senior Warren Carter, who played with a lack of aggressiveness in recent games, added a game-high 17 points to go along with eight rebounds. Pruitt and Carter combined for more rebounds than the entire Northwestern (11-12, 1-9) team, and Illini combined for 16 second-chance points compared to the Wildcats' zero.

"We just come in every game to fight, and we came to play today. Our team did a great job of crashing the boards early, we did a great job of getting the ball inside and our big men finished," said senior Rich McBride, who scored 15 points.

Early in the second half with 15:08 remaining, the Illini, who have now won three games in a row, turned a five-point lead into a 17-point advantage after holding the Wildcats to just two points over the next five minutes.

The Illini increased the spread to 58-39 after a Brian Randle three-pointer with 1:45 to play.

"Everybody having such a good game for us, this is a big win for us, especially winning up here; it's a tough place to play," McBride said.

With the Illini leading 26-12 with 4:52 to play in the first half, the Wildcats followed with a run of their own, reeling off 11 straight points over the next 3:14. But propelled by a 5-0 spurt, Illinois ended the first half with a 31-23 advantage.

Vince Scott led Northwestern with 16 points (5-of-8 shooting) and Kevin Coble added nine points.

After breaking out of his shooting slump and scoring 13 points against Minnesota last Saturday, Jamar Smith scored just two points with three assists. But in order for Illinois to be successful in Bloomington, Weber is stressing the need for Smith to get "hot" if the team wants to beat some of the top teams in the Big Ten.

In 18 minutes off the bench, Calvin Brock gave the Illini an extra boost of energy.

"He's very good against zones, is a good flasher and got some offensive rebounds, and it makes a difference," Weber said.

With Illinois' recent move up the standings, Weber hopes Illinois can play its best basketball of the season down the stretch.

He continues to take a "one game at a time focus" and wants to see Illinois use the same strategy of scoring points early as it did against Northwestern.

"We are going to have to play our best basketball if we are going to win up there," Carter said. "If we want to get back noticed around the nation, we are going to have to try to go up there and get a win."