Box Score

By JOHN KELLY
Associated Press Writer

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) - Freshman Brian Cook scored 21 points to help Illinois beat Iowa 78-50 Saturday for its fourth straight Big Ten victory.

Cook got help from center Marcus Griffin, who scored 10 points in his second game back from knee surgery. Lucas Johnson added 16 points for the Illini (15-7 overall, 7-4 Big Ten).

Rob Griffin scored 20 points, including three 3-pointers in the second half, to lead Iowa (11-12, 4-7). Jacob Jaacks added 12 points.

It was Iowa's lowest scoring output since a 49-48 loss to Wisconsin on Feb. 26, 1997.

Iowa, coming off an upset of No. 5 Ohio State on Wednesday night, turned the ball over 14 times and shot just 26 percent in the first half.

The Illini dominated the offensive rebounding. Griffin scored three baskets inside off teammates' misses as Illinois built a 21-10 lead.

But Illinois also missed nine 3-pointers in the half. The Illini's most prolific outside shooter, sophomore Cory Bradford, didn't score a point until the final 30 seconds of the half when he hit a 3-pointer to make it 30-15.

Iowa got a late layup to make the halftime score 30-17.

Bradford made back to back 3-pointers during a 12-4 run that gave the Illini a 42-21 lead with 16 minutes left.

Moments later, Iowa's Rob Griffin shot his team back into the game. He made back-to-back 3-pointers, then drove for a layup and drew a foul on Marcus Griffin. He made the free throw to bring the Hawkeyes within 46-32 at the 11:58 mark.

Iowa got as close as 46-34 before Illinois recovered and pulled away. The Illini made seven straight free throws, including five by Lucas Johnson, to get the lead back to 19 points at 53-34 with just over nine minutes remaining.

The Hawkeyes never got within 15 points the rest of the way.