CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) -- Illinois made a promise and kept it.
After shooting 7-for-45 from 3-point range in their last two
games, the Illini (No. 8 ESPN/USA Today, No. 9 AP) fed center Marcus Griffin for a career-high
27 points to start the Big Ten season with an 80-64 victory over
Minnesota on Wednesday night.
|  | | Illinois' Marcus Griffin (52) scored a career-high 27 points on 11-for-15 shooting. |
The Illini front line combined for 43 points and would have had
more if not for a flurry of errant, circus-style passes.
"We had a mismatch down low. They didn't have much height,"
Griffin said. "We just decided every time, get it to the post -- every time."
Frank Williams scored all 16 of his points in the second half
and Brian Cook added 11 rebounds and six blocks for Illinois
(11-3).
The loss ended an eight-game winning streak and one of the best
starts in school history for Minnesota (12-2), which got 21 points
from Dusty Rychart but could not handle Illinois' interior defense
and rebounding.
"The way Griffin plays is something that's difficult to
match," Gophers coach Dan Monson said. "Once he gets the ball in
there, him and Cook really, we've got problems. We don't have a lot
of answers for him and that was obvious."
Griffin and Rychart starred in an otherwise sloppy first half,
each scoring 13 points. Griffin was critical of his performance,
saying he should have done more to contain the Gophers' center.
Sean Harrington's consecutive 3-pointers -- the only ones
Illinois made in the first half -- gave the Illini an early 12-5
lead. But despite outrebounding the Gophers 22-12 and blocking
seven shots, the Illini could not build on the advantage and led
29-27 at halftime.
Illinois' shooting woes ended after the break. Illini, which
shot 33 percent in the first half, shot 62 percent in the second
half.
"I hope the guys didn't go into too much detail about what we
talked about at halftime," Illinois coach Bill Self said. "Most
guys are lucky to get to coach one team, but I'm fortunate enough
to get to coach two."
The Illini shot 4-for-9 from 3-point range in the second
half. Cory Bradford hit a 3-pointer, extending his NCAA-record
streak of making at least one 3-pointer to 78 straight games.
Bradford emerged from a horrid slump, partly by shooting less.
The junior, who entered the game shooting 32.5 percent, went
4-for-4 with three assists.
"He wasn't thinking about it tonight," Self said of the
streak. "You shoot better when you don't think."
The difference was Griffin, who scored eight points in a 23-8
run at the start of the second half. He added seven rebounds and
two blocks.
"It's all about our guards delivering the ball," Griffin said.
"I've just got to put the ball in the basket."
There was bad news for Illinois. Starting forward Sergio McClain
left in the first half, clutching his left ankle. Self said doctors
called it a "bad sprain" and he expects McClain to miss at least
one game.
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ALSO SEE
Men's College Basketball Scoreboard
AUDIO/VIDEO
 Illinois' Sergio McClain comes up with the big block to prevent the Minnesota dunk.
avi: 1103 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
Illinois' Marcus Griffin picks up the basket and the foul.
avi: 775 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
Minnesota's Terrance Simmons steals the ball at midcourt then takes it in for the two.
avi: 816 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
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