Illinois Dispatches Upstart UW-Milwaukee
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ROSEMONT, Ill. – Standout guards Dee Brown and Deron Williams gave upstart Wisconsin-Milwaukee all that it could handle and then some last night, combining for 42 points, 10 assists, and some nasty defense to lead Illinois to a 77-63 victory and a spot in the Chicago Regional finals.
Williams had 21 points on 8-of-12 shooting and eight assists. Brown scored 15 of his 21 from 3-point range, and had two assists and two steals. Roger Powell Jr. and Luther Head added 12 each, and James Augustine finished with 11.
The top-seeded Illini (35-1) will play the winner of the Oklahoma State-Arizona game Saturday for a chance to go to their first Final Four since 1989.
Joah Tucker led UWM (26-6) with a career-high 32 points, but he was essentially a one-man offense. UWM shot 39%, and leading scorer Ed McCants was 4-of-17 overall for 13 points. Illinois forced the Panthers into 12 turnovers while committing only nine.
The victory was some payback for Illinois fans, who still harbor a grudge against UWM coach Bruce Pearl for the role he played in a recruiting scandal some 15 years ago. Pearl gave the NCAA a tape of a secretly recorded phone call in 1989, touching off a 16-month investigation. Illinois was cleared of the most serious violations, but had to skip the 1991 postseason.
Williams extended the lead in the second half, scoring on three straight possessions. He was hacked from behind as he went up for a lay-up, and made one free throw. He then scored on a fastbreak lay-up and finished the run with a 3-pointer to give Illinois a 51-37 lead.
Illinois led by as much as 17 before Milwaukee made an 8-0 run to get back within double digits with about 3 minutes to play. But Powell scored on a layup, and UWM never got close again.
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(3) ARIZONA 79, (2) OKLAHOMA STATE 78
Salim Stoudemire hit a running jump shot with 2.8 seconds remaining in regulation to give Arizona a 79-78 victory over Oklahoma State. Stoudemire finished with 19 points, as did teammate Hassan Adams.
The Wildcats will take on Illinois in the regional finals.
