Feb. 13, 2001

Box Score
Coach Self and players post-game video
Coach Self and players post-game audio

By JOHN KELLY
Associated Press Writer

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - Illinois predicted every possession would count against Wisconsin. Ultimately, every second counted.

Marcus Griffin scored off an inbounds pass from Sean Harrington with 0.8 seconds left as the fourth-ranked Illini beat No. 19 Wisconsin 68-67 Tuesday night.

Griffin's shot came after Frank Williams rallied the Illini from a 13-point halftime deficit by scoring 18 of his 22 points in the second half.

"You can't beat that," Williams said.

Williams had collided with two defenders on a short jumper with 2 seconds left. Wisconsin grabbed Williams' miss, but lost control of the rebound.

The Illini kept the ball and Griffin barely had time to catch it five feet from the basket and toss an arching shot in.

"Whoever was open was going to get the ball," Griffin said. "Frank made a terrific screen and Sean made an incredible pass."

Williams then intercepted the Badgers' inbounds pass to seal the win for Illinois (20-5, 10-2 Big Ten).

"He's a big time player," Wisconsin coach Brad Soderberg said of Williams. "He made plays. That's his trademark. He's a great second-half player and he plays big against ranked teams."

Kirk Penney led Wisconsin (15-7, 6-5) with 18 points, including four 3-pointers. Penney made the two free throws that gave the Badgers a 67-66 lead with 9.5 seconds left.

Soderberg called the game a free-throw shooting contest. Illinois won it by shooting 16-for-21 from the line in the second half. Wisconsin was 11 for 16 from the line in the second period.

Illinois struggled from 3-point range throughout the game. Cory Bradford missed all six of his 3-point shots and finished with two points. Entering the game, Bradford, a junior, had made a 3-pointer in every collegiate game he played, a streak of 88 games.

The teams expected, and got, a physical game.

"That was Mortal Kombat guys," said Griffin, who finished with 18 points, including 6-for-7 from the line.

Brian Cook opened the game with Illinois' only 3-pointer of the first half. The Illini missed six 3-pointers as Wisconsin went on a 15-3 run that lasted almost 10 minutes and ended with the Badgers leading 15-6.

As Illinois coach Bill Self screamed, "Take it inside," Williams twice dribbled around two defenders for layups to make it 15-10.

The Badgers shot 61 percent, including 6-for-9 from 3-point range, in the first half. Roy Boone and Penney made 3-pointers as Wisconsin built a 35-22 halftime lead.

"We challenged them at halftime," Self said. "One thing about this team is they respond to challenges. Fifteen down to Wisconsin is like 25 against anyone else."

Fouls got the Badgers in trouble early in the first half, when centers Andy Kowske and Charlie Wills each got their third and sat down. Wisconsin's seventh foul came less than six minutes into the half, putting Illinois in the bonus early.

The Illini made five straight free throws, closing within 45-36 with 12:55 left, but Wisconsin did not loosen up on defense.

Illinois kept driving to the basket and the Badgers contested every shot. Kowske, Kelley and Wills picked up their fourth fouls and the Illini made six free throws to get within one basket, 51-48, with 7:09 remaining.

Penney slowed the momentum with a 3-pointer to push the lead back to six points with 6:11 left.

Williams hit a 3-pointer with 3:51 remaining to get Illinois within 59-58, and Lucas Johnson tied it at 59 by hitting the second of two free throws with 3:32 remaining.

"The second half, we picked it up," Williams said. "Guys set screens for one another and we knocked down some shots."

Kowske fouled out, then Wills, and Griffin made three of four free throws to give Illinois its first lead of the second half, 62-61, with 2:14 to go.

Linton made a layup and Boone stole a fumbled ball from Bradford and dropped it in to put Wisconsin ahead 65-61 with 1:47 left. Cook tipped in an Illinois miss with 1 minute left.

Boone traveled at the other end and Griffin rebounded a Willliams miss and banked it in for a 66-65 lead with 30 seconds left.

Penney drove the lane and Harrington fouled him on the layup with 9.5 seconds to go. Penney made both for a 67-66 lead.

Williams took the inbounds and drove down the middle, collided with two defenders and missed his shot with 2 seconds left. The ball bounced off a Badger on the rebound and Illinois retained possession to set up Griffin's winner.

"I diagramed the play in the huddle," Soderberg said. "Our guys ran it just like we planned and they made a great play. If we had to go back out there right now and do it again, I'd do the same thing. A great player made a great play."