March 3, 2005
By JIM PAUL
Associated Press Writer
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - Dee Brown scored 24 of his career-high 27 points in the first half, and Derron Williams added 21 to lead top-ranked Illinois to an 84-50 victory over Purdue on Thursday night.
The Illini (29-0, 15-0 Big Ten) celebrated their second consecutive conference championship by closing out the Boilermakers by halftime, building a 50-26 lead. Illinois won its 21st in a row at the Assembly Hall in its final home game.
The Illini raced to an 11-4 lead, and Purdue (7-19, 3-12) never got closer than five points after that. The Illini had a 21-0 run in the second half and led by as many as 44 points in handing Purdue its fourth straight loss.
Williams hit four 3-pointers and had six assists, including a show-stopping, behind-the-back delivery to Warren Carter for a dunk with 1:04 to go in the first half.
Luther Head added 11 points for Illinois.
Gary Ware scored 12 points, and Matt Kiefer added 10 for Purdue, which played with scoring leader Carl Laundry.
Brown was 8-of-10 from 3-point range and 9-of-12 from the field overall, setting career highs for baskets and attempts from long range and an Assembly Hall record for 3-point baskets.
Brown missed his first shot of the night, but was unstoppable after that.
He hit two straight 3s as the Illini opened a 9-4 lead. Two more 3s in a row, gave the Illini a 32-16 lead and two more at the end of the first half made it 50-26.