Illinois was too tall and too talented. Literally and figuratively, Illinois-Chicago came up short.
Flaunting their conspicuous height advantage to the hilt, the Illini methodically defeated their big city cousins 75-60 before a Champaign-accented crowd of 15,415 Tuesday night in the United Center.
The relatively easy victory enabled No. 20 Illinois to improve its record to 8-2 going into Saturday’s final nonconference game at home against Illinois State.
UIC, which earlier this month had routed Big Ten foe Northwestern, fell to 9-4.
“Their size and defense killed us,” said UIC coach Jimmy Collins. “They took us out of everything we tried to run. They’re big. They’re well-coached. They play together; 23 assists pretty much speaks for itself.”
Three other statistics came through loud and clear–the Illini’s 11 blocked shots, 52-34 superiority in rebounds and 16 fast-break points to the Flames’ four.
Illinois also put the clamps on UIC’s two most dangerous players, Martell Bailey and Cedrick Banks.
Bailey went into the game ranked second in the nation in assists with 8.8 per game. But the Illini’s Dee Brown handcuffed Bailey, holding him to two assists (both in the second half) and three points. Bailey also turned over the ball five times.
Banks had a 19.6 scoring average. But Brian Randle and Luther Head limited him to four in the first half and five in the second.
“Our game plan was to cut off their head, Bailey and Banks,” said Illinois coach Bruce Weber. “Bailey is maybe as good a point guard as we’ll face. Dee did a great job.”
Offsetting his 1-for-8 shooting night, Brown had nine assists, six defensive rebounds and four assists.
“I missed some easy shots,” Brown said. “I should have been 7-for-8. But I was happy; I produced. Guarding Martell was fun. I stepped up to the challenge.”
The balanced Illini didn’t need Brown to score. Small forward Roger Powell led the way with 17 points in only 19 minutes of action, center James Augustine and Head each scored 13 and Randle contributed nine points and a game-high 11 rebounds.
Richard McBride came off the bench to sink three shots from three-point range.
Illinois immediately asserted itself, and at one point in the first half led 32-12. Only 6-foot-4-inch Armond Williams, who accounted for eight of UIC’s early points, was able to cope with the taller Illini beneath the basket.
But by the second half Williams was done. He had only four of his 14 points in the final 20 minutes.
Head played his best game of the season. He made five baskets in seven attempts and had six rebounds.
“It was great to see Luther make some shots,” Weber said. “He was red-hot in practice (Monday).”
Before the game Weber said he believed the university’s decision last week not to impose any additional penalties on Head, McBride and Aaron Spears for their alleged roles in a November campus apartment break-in would help the Illini emotionally.Earlier, they all had been suspended four games by Weber and been placed on probation and ordered to perform public service by the university.
“I’m glad for those guys that it’s behind them,” Weber said. “I know the embarrassment they brought to themselves, their families, our basketball program and the university has taken a toll on them mentally. They have learned a tough lesson and, hopefully, they can move forward.”
