| |
RECAP
|
BOX SCORE
MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) -- Illinois coach Bill Self never convinced
his team that Kansas State would be as dangerous as the two
top-ranked teams the Illini faced earlier this season.
The Illini (No. 8 ESPN/USA Today; No. 9 AP) didn't play as emotionally against the unranked Wildcats on Saturday, but beat them 76-56 anyway.
|  | | Kansas State's Matt Siebrandt puts up a shot under pressured by Illinois forward Sergio McClain.
|
"I thought we were ready to play," Self said. "We didn't have
near the same intensity as we did in those other big games. But, we
played mature and focused. A lot of it was the intensity of Kansas
State. They really competed."
Marcus Griffin admitted that Illinois (5-2) was flat Saturday
after losing to No. 1 Duke 78-77 on Tuesday.
The loss to Duke wrapped up a stretch where the Illini had
played five games in eight days, including a 79-76 loss to then-No.
1 Arizona in the title game of the Maui Invitational.
"We had to forget about Duke and come to play," Griffin said.
"We went into Greensboro looking for a win. That was hard to
swallow. This was one was just a hard one to get up for. We were
flat at times."
The Illini set the pace early with Griffin's inside presence,
and never trailed in the game. Griffin had 20 points and 10
rebounds to lead Illinois.
"I thought Griffin had a great low post presence during the
whole game," Self said. "He'd be the first to admit, though, that
he showed of scored 30. He missed some easy dump shots. But, he's
working intensely."
Illinois made four straight 3-pointers to take a 24-8 lead with
11:44 to go in the first half.
Sergio McClain had 12 points for Illinois and Corey Bradford
added 10.
Kansas State (2-2) went on a 8-0 run in the first half to cut
the lead down to nine when Travis Reynolds slam-dunked an alley-oop
pass from Quenten Buchanan.
Reynolds had 15 points for the Wildcats and Kelvin Howell added
13.
Kansas State cut the lead to nine again in the second half on
Phineas Atchison's jumper with 9:37 to go before the Wildcats got
into foul trouble as Terry Richie fouled out.
Robert Archibald made a layup and two free throws within 46
seconds to stave off Kansas State's rally. Illinois went on a 10-2
run and Lucas Johnson hit a 3-pointer with 2:17 to go to put the
Illini up big.
Illinois held the Wildcats to 34 percent shooting and forced 19
turnovers.
"Turnovers were a big problem," Kansas State coach Jim
Wooldridge said. "We presented a lot of opportunities for Illinois
by giving them the ball so many times. Obviously, when you play a
team of Illinois' caliber, we have to do a lot of things very
well."
Kansas State hasn't beaten a top 10 team since 1992 when the
Wildcats upset No. 7 Kansas 74-67. Kansas State has lost nine
straight meetings against ranked opponents.
Illinois holds a 7-2 advantage in the series. The Illini beat
Kansas State 81-48 at home last season.
Illinois was the highest ranked non-conference opponent to visit
Manhattan since No. 5 Indiana in 1982-83.
| |
ALSO SEE
Mens College Basketball Scoreboard
Illinois Clubhouse
Kansas State Clubhouse
AUDIO/VIDEO
 Illinois' Marcus Griffin throws one down on Travis Reynolds.
avi: 630 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
Kelvin Howell throws down the alley-oop from Tony Atchinson.
avi: 517 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
Quentin Buchanan sets Travis Reynolds up with the lob.
avi: 597 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
Illinois' Sergio McClain runs the break with Frank Williams.
avi: 904 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
|
