Jan 23, 2002

Final Stats?|? Photo Gallery

Illini Wrap - VIDEO | AUDIO
courtesy of WCIA-TV, Channel 3, Champaign>
Post-game comments (audio):
Coach Self | Players
(Players: Robert Archibald, Cory Bradford, Damir Krupalija, Lucas Johnson)

By JASON STRAIT
Associated Press Writer

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) - With things still close, Illinois got the ball to Cory Bradford and let the long-range shooter break the game open.

Leading by six points late in the first half, the Illini went on a 19-2 run keyed by the shooting of Bradford. The guard had 11 points during that stretch, hitting two 3-pointers and scoring on a breakaway in less than a minute to extend the Illini's lead to 15 points on the way to an 80-48 victory over Wisconsin on Wednesday night.

Bradford finished with 16 points - all in the first half - on 4-for-6 shooting from 3-point range.

"I certainly didn't anticipate it being like this. It's 27-21 and Cory goes nuts," Illinois coach Bill Self said.

It was one of the best performances of the season for Bradford, the NCAA record-holder for consecutive games with a 3-pointer at 88.

Since averaging 15 points a game his first two years at Illinois, the senior's production had dropped off considerably. Bradford averaged 9.9 points last season, and entered the Wisconsin game with 11.7 average.

"I just don't think he's gotten on a roll like this. He was looking for his shot and guys were looking for him, and there haven't been too many occasions when that has been the case," Self said.

After Bradford's run, the game was a blowout.

Illinois (15-4, 4-2 Big Ten) held the Badgers scoreless for 6:37 span around halftime during a 23-2 run that gave the Illini a 25-point lead as they extended their home-winning streak to 28 games.

Illinois was 10-of-20 from 3-point range and got important points early from big men Robert Archibald and Brian Cook. Archibald had 14 points on 6-for-6 shooting, and Cook had 12 points for Illinois, which shot 59 percent from the field.

"They can hurt you inside and outside if they're hitting the 3s. If you can hurt people both ways ... that's a nice weapon," Wisconsin coach Bo Ryan said.

The game got so out of hand that Self emptied his bench with about 10 minutes to go and eventually inserted walk-on Walter Young into the lineup. Young, a wide receiver on the football team, joined the Illini only a week ago and knew few of the plays.

Illinois led by as many as 37 points in the second half.

"They hit 3s and it really put us in a hole. We're not the kind of team that can come back from something like that," Ryan said.

Freddie Owens and Devin Harris each had 13 points for Wisconsin (11-9, 4-3), which shot 36 percent from the field and tied a season-low with the 48 points. The Badgers also had 21 turnovers.

Wisconsin's leading scorer Kirk Penny, averaging 14.5 points, was held to five points on 2-of-6 shooting.

Frank Williams, second in the Big Ten in scoring at 17.9 points per game, had two points and five assists for Illinois. He took only four shots, and that was just fine with his coach.

"I'm not sure Frank had an off night. I've said this all along. We're a much better team when frank doesn't have to score," Self said.

Instead, Williams left that up to Bradford who scored 16 points for the second straight game, the last coming in a 77-66 win over Iowa.

The crowd saved its loudest cheers for the return of injured forwards Damir Krupalija and Lucas Johnson. Krupalija had missed the last six games with a sprained foot and had practiced twice since mid-December. Johnson, playing in his first game of the season, had been sidelined with a torn knee ligament. Johnson had five points and two steals.

"Every game right now is crucial for us. We're a deep team now. We proved it tonight," Bradford said.