Nick Smith is known for being temperamental–except when it comes to his free-throw shooting. Lately, no Illinois player has been as steady.
Smith went 9-of-9 from the line Wednesday night and extended his streak of consecutive free throws to 18 in Illinois’ easy 85-63 victory over Ohio State (8-6) at Assembly Hall in the Big Ten opener for both teams. Smith, a 7-foot-2-inch reserve center, also was a perfect 6-of-6 from the floor, including a three-pointer, on his way to a career-high 22 points.
“He played unbelievable,” Illinois’ Dee Brown said. “It was big for us.”
No. 19 Illinois (10-2) needed a lift after coach Bruce Weber benched Luther Head because the guard was arrested Tuesday night for driving with a suspended license. Weber and Illinois athletic director Ron Guenther must decide soon if Head will return for Saturday’s game against Purdue.
Smith, though, had reason to be pleased.
“Just my night, I guess,” he said.
Brown also had good reason to be optimistic about his shooting. His touch was far from perfect, but he gave indications in the first half that he is close to breaking out of his slump.
“I haven’t been relaxed,” Brown said earlier in the week. “I’ve been rushing and shooting. I’ve been playing badly, but we’ve still been winning. What’s going to happen when I start making my shot?”
Everything else comes a little easier for Illinois, that’s what.
Brown scored 14 points in the first half on 5-of-8 shooting with one basket coming courtesy of a goaltending call on Ohio State’s Brandon Fuss-Cheatham.
Brown’s first-half highlights included a left-handed scooped layup, a trademark layup off a fast-break and two three-pointers. He missed badly at times in the second half, but by then Illinois was in control. He finished with 16 points, one of six Illini in double figures. Richard McBride and Roger Powell each added 11, and Brian Randle and James Augustine had 10 apiece.
Smith made all four of his shots in the first half as Illinois raced to a 39-22 lead that had been as high as 24 late in the half. Smith’s first basket was a three-pointer.
“If I hit that first shot, I tend to get on a roll,” Smith said.
Smith ended up 6-of-6 from the field and had nine rebounds.
Ohio State came within 11 twice in the second half but couldn’t sustain a run. The Buckeyes were led by Terence Dials, who scored 11 and fouled out with 7:27 left. Tony Stockman added 10 for Ohio State.
“The difference tonight was defensive pressure we were not able to deal with,” Ohio State coach Jim O’Brien said.
Illinois’ Deron Williams, who scored 20 points against Illinois State in his first game since sustaining a broken jaw in December, struggled. He was scoreless in the first half, missing all five of his shots, and scored his only basket with 14:56 left.
