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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
CHICAGO (AP) -- From the moment the first Arizona player went
crashing to the floor, it was clear this was going to be No. 5
Illinois' game.
|  | | Illinois guard Cory Bradford drives to the basket against Arizona's Jason Gardner in the Illini's 81-73 win. |
Cory Bradford set an NCAA record with a 3-pointer in his 74th
consecutive game, and the Illini beat up on Arizona (No. 6 ESPN/USA Today, No. 7 AP) en route
to an 81-73 victory Saturday, avenging their loss in the Maui
Invitational title game last month.
"There's no question the team that played the hardest for 40
minutes is the team that won," said Arizona coach Lute Olson, back
on the bench after missing last weekend's game to be with his wife,
Bobbi, who is undergoing treatment for ovarian cancer.
"I think in the last 20 minutes we played extremely well, but
the game is not played over 20 minutes. They were tougher both
physically and mentally than we were in the first half."
The Illini (8-2) played tough the whole game. Frank Williams
went 9-of-10 from the free throw line in the final 3:27 to seal the
game -- despite a strained muscle in his right shoulder that hurt so
bad his teammates couldn't even pat him on the back.
Three Illinois players fouled out, and Lucas Johnson played with
four fouls, including an intentional one for a second-half scuffle
with Richard Jefferson. Robert Archibald, one of the Illini who
fouled out, also was called for an intentional foul.
Illinois had 27 total fouls.
"The rules committee wanted to come back to being a game of
finesse, not a game of hand-to-hand combat," Olson said. "I would
say this was hand-to-hand combat. But if that's the way it's being
played, that's the way you better play."
Just like last month, when Jason Gardner had to make two free
throws with 11 seconds left to preserve Arizona's 79-76 victory at
Maui, the victory didn't come easy for Illinois.
After trailing by as many as nine points in the second half,
Arizona (5-3) cut the Illinois lead to 78-73 with 16 seconds left
on two free throws by Gardner and a basket by Gilbert Arenas. But
Arenas missed the free throw shot for the three-point play, and he
and Gardner both missed 3-point attempts in the final 15 seconds.
The Illini didn't make a field goal after Marcus Griffin's
reverse with 3:52 left, but it didn't matter as they went 15-of-20
from the line. Williams accounted for nine of those points.
"Beating Arizona was a big-time win," Johnson said.
Bradford finished with 13 points, including two more 3-pointers,
and all of the Illini starters finished in double figures.
Michael Wright scored 21 for Arizona, which dropped to 0-3 in
games at the United Center. The Wildcats also lost at the Great
Eight tournament in 1997 and 1999.
It also was the second straight non-conference loss on the road
for Arizona. That hadn't happened since 1989-90, when the Wildcats
dropped three consecutive non-conference road games.
"I've never been one that believed in playing cupcakes," Olson
said. "What good does that do? What we're concerned about is what
happens the first week in January. Are we going to be a better team
the first week in January because of this game? No question."
The Illini outrebounded Arizona 42-37, and held the Wildcats to
42 percent (27-of-65) shooting. No Illinois opponent has shot
better than 45 percent this season.
"People think we must be down or we must not be doing something
right," said Loren Woods, who scored 15 points and had a
career-high five assists in only his second game since last
February. "Illinois was just a better team today."
Trailing 38-32 at the half, the Wildcats started the second half
on a tear. Gardner opened with a 3-pointer, and his crosscourt
heave set up a Richard Jefferson jam that gave Arizona a 39-38
lead, its first since the opening minutes of the game.
The Illini missed their first seven shots of the half, and
didn't score until Bradford's two free throws with 16:14 left.
Woods hit a baseline jumper that tied the score at 43 with 14:37
left, but Arizona made only one more field goal over the next 6½
minutes. Brian Cook scored seven points as Illinois used a 16-6 run
to take a 57-49 lead with 7:21 left. Arizona couldn't cut the
margin to less than five points the rest of the way.
"I've had the Illini in the top six all along," Olson said.
"They've got experience, they've got toughness and they've got
shooters."
Do they ever, starting with Bradford. After needing overtime to
tie the record it last week, he got it out of the way quickly
Saturday, hitting one with 13:43 left in the first half.
The previous record of 73 was set by Virginia Tech's Wally
Lancaster from 1986-89.
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ALSO SEE
Men's College Basketball Scoreboard
Arizona Clubhouse
Illinois Clubhouse
Katz: Illini prove toughness against Arizona
Illini's Bradford hits '3' in record 74th straight game
AUDIO/VIDEO
 Cory Bradford sets an NCAA record as he hits a three-pointer in his 74th consecutive game.
avi: 862 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
Arizona's Richard Jefferson lands on his back after throwing down the alley-oop.
avi: 1479 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
Luke Walton finds Michael Wright under the hoop for the easy two.
avi: 882 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
Illinois' Robert Archibald tips in the missed shot.
avi: 1038 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
Richard Jefferson throws down the reverse jam in transition.
avi: 779 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
 Illinois coach Bill Self knows his team had to battle for their victory over Arizona.
wav: 153 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
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