FightingIllini.com
The Official Home of University of Illinois Athletics
- Men's Sports
- MEN'S SPORTS
- Baseball
- Basketball
- Cheerleading
- Football
- Golf
- WOMEN'S SPORTS
- Basketball
- Cheerleading
- Golf
- Gymnastics
- Soccer
No. 1 Illinois Cruises Past No. 22 Cincinnati, 67-45
  |
|
Roger Powell Jr. scores during the first half against Cincinnati.
|
Dec. 31, 2004
LAS VEGAS (AP) - Deron Williams had 18 points and six rebounds to help No. 1 Illinois defeat No. 22 Cincinnati 67-45 in the final game of the Las Vegas Holiday Classic on Friday.
Dee Brown and Roger Powell added 13 points apiece for Illinois (14-0), which did not trail for the sixth consecutive game. Luther Head, who was named tournament MVP, had 11 points and eight rebounds.
Jason Maxiell led the Bearcats (11-1) with 12 points and 11 rebounds, while Eric Hicks added eight points.
Illinois is off to its best start since 1988-89, when it began 17-0 and reached the Final Four. The Illini have only trailed for 21 minutes, 32 seconds of 560 minutes this season. The last time Illinois trailed was in the first half against Georgetown on Dec. 9.
The Illini held Cincinnati to 28 percent shooting (14-of-50), and the Bearcats didn't help themselves, finishing 13-of-26 from the foul line.
After Illinois pulled ahead 21-11, the Bearcats got no closer than eight points the rest of the way. Cincinnati made just six shots in the first half, and the Illini held a 35-24 lead at the break.
