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Thursday, Dec. 12

LC teams play Florissant Valley

[DEC. 12, 2002] 

Men

Lincoln College outscored Florissant Valley 43-13 over the final 15 minutes to post an 85-55 victory here Wednesday night. The victory raises the Lynx record to 5-5 for the season.

After posting a 31-24 halftime lead, Lincoln College and Flo Valley battled through the first five minutes of the second half and were deadlocked at 42-42. The Lynx then turned up the defensive pressure and limited the visitors to just 13 points while netting several easy fast-break baskets and scoring 43 points of their own.

The Lynx shot a blistering 62 percent (21 of 34) in the second half on their way to 54 points in the 20-minute period. Four Lynx were in double figures. James Roberson led the way with 20, Rueben Trotter chipped in with 16, Jamaal Thompson netted 13, and Michael Fowler added 10.

Lincoln College (85) -- Josh Clark 3-7-0-0-7, Jeff Carlson 1-1-0-0-2, Michael Fowler 4-9-0-0-10, Rueben Trotter 6-11-4-6-16, Loyd Bowen 1-1-0-1-2, Amir Major 3-6-0-0-6, Jamaal Thompson 6-9-0-0-13, James Roberson 6-12-4-4-20, Derik Hollyfield 1-7-4-4-7, Rian Lazzerini 1-1-0-0-2. Totals: 32-64-12-15-85. Three-point goals: Clark, Fowler 2, Thompson, Roberson 4, Hollyfield.

Florissant Valley (55) -- Chuck Walls 0-2-0-0-0, Bryant Lyles 4-10-1-1-9, Joagquin Webster 1-4-0-0-2, Joe Anderson 0-3-0-1-0, Demarius Bolds 6-17-3-3-15, Vergie Hawkins 0-1-0-0-0, Ryan Belcher 3-13-0-0-7, Josh Therrien 3-6-2-2-9, Chis Jenkins 0-3-2-2-2, Darran Henderson 1-5-0-2-2, Scott Martin 0-1-0-0-0, Arlando Sanders 4-6-0-0-9. Totals: 22-71-8-11-55. Three-point goals: Belcher, Therrien, Sanders.

[to top of second column in this article]

Women

Kim Calhoun led the Lincoln College women to a 66-43 victory over Florissant Valley at the Lynx gym Wednesday night. With the victory the Lady Lynx are 9-3 for the season.

Calhoun had a double-double with 12 points and 13 rebounds to lead the Lynx to victory. Lincoln held an eight-point lead at halftime with Calhoun, Victoria Scott and Becky Spears all scoring six points. The Lynx made 10 of 13 free throws down the stretch to stay ahead of the visitors.

Zabrina Harper, with 10 points, was the only other Lincoln player in double figures. Once again a balanced attack carried the Lincoln College squad, as 10 players cracked the scoring column.

Lincoln College (66) -- Victoria Scott 2-0-6, Audrey Hinrichsen 2-2-6, Amber Bell 0-4-4, Becky Spears 4-0-8, Kim Calhoun 3-6-12, Nicole Dearing 1-0-2, Ashley Sims 3-2-8, Maria Coronel 2-0-6, Zabrina Harper 5-0-10, Erica Ernst 1-2-4. Totals: 23-16-66. Three-point goals: Scott 2, Coronel 2.

Florissant Valley (43) -- Hunter 1-0-3, Troupe 2-0-4, Johnson 1-0-2, Harris 2-0-4, Stepps 7-4-20, Moore 1-0-2, Gutierrez 3-0-6, Thompson 1-0-2. Totals: 18-4-43. Three-point goals: Hunter, Stepps 2.

[Bill Martinie, Lincoln College
sports information director]

Pre-game notes: Illinois vs. Temple

[DEC. 12, 2002]   Fighting Illini basketball notes:

• No. 15/14 Illinois (6-0) vs. Temple (1-5)
• Dec. 14, 11 a.m.
• Chicago, United Center (21,711)

• ESPN television

F - 34 Brian Cook (senior, 6-10, 240, 19.5 ppg, 6.0 rpg)

F - 43 Roger Powell (sophomore, 6-6, 220, 13.3 ppg, 5.2 rpg)

F/C - 40 James Augustine (freshman, 6-10, 220, 7.0 ppg, 6.0 rpg)

G - 11 Dee Brown (freshman, 6-0, 175, 13.3 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 5.2 apg)

G - 5 Deron Williams (freshman, 6-3, 210, 7.5 ppg, 1.7 rpg, 4.3 apg)

C - 1 Aaron Spears (freshman, 6-9, 250, 3.2 ppg, 1.5 rpg)

G - 4 Luther Head (sophomore, 6-3, 175, 9.3 ppg, 3.5 rpg)

F - 23 Blandon Ferguson (senior, 6-3, 205, 3.6 ppg, 2.2 rpg)

G - 24 Sean Harrington (senior, 6-3, 185, 8.3 ppg, 2.0 rpg)

G - 25 Jerrance Howard (junior, 6-1, 200, 0.0 ppg, 0.0 rpg)

G - 31 Nick Huge (junior, 6-4, 215, 0.7 ppg, 0.3 rpg)

F - 32 Kyle Wilson (freshman, 6-8, 230, 5.0 ppg, 1.6 rpg)

F - 42 Clayton Thomas (senior, 6-7, 240, 2.0 ppg, 3.0 rpg)

C - 45 Nick Smith (sophomore, 7-2, 240, 4.5 ppg, 3.3 rpg)

While games played at the United Center count as neutral site in the record book, for the Illini the UC is a home away from home. Saturday's game against Temple will mark the 23rd game the Illini have played in the UC, dating back to the 1994-95 season. Illinois owns an all-time record of 16-6 at the United Center.

Dec. 4, 1994 -- Duke, L, 65-70

Dec. 23, 1995 -- California, W, 83-69

Dec. 21, 1996 -- UCLA, W, 79-63

Dec. 13, 1997 -- Clemson, W, 71-61

March 6, 1998 -- Wisconsin, W, 66-61

March 7, 1998 -- Purdue, L, 47-68

Dec. 5, 1998 -- Bradley, W, 53-48

March 4, 1999 -- Minnesota, W, 74-67

March 5, 1999 -- Indiana, W, 83-66

March 6, 1999 -- Ohio State, W, 79-77

March 7, 1999 -- Michigan State, L, 50-67

Nov. 30, 1999 -- Duke, L, 69-72

Dec. 18, 1999 -- Kansas, W, 84-70

March 10, 2000 -- Indiana, W, 72-69

March 11, 2000 -- Penn State, W, 94-84

March 12, 2000 -- Michigan State, L, 61-76

Dec. 16, 2000 -- Arizona, W, 81-73

March 9, 2001 -- Purdue, W, 83-66

March 10, 2001 -- Indiana, L, 56-58

Dec. 8, 2001 -- Arkansas, W, 94-91

March 15, 2002 -- San Diego State, W, 93-64

March 17, 2002 -- Creighton, W, 72-60

Illinois 80, Eastern Illinois 68

Dee Brown scored a career-high 25 points, 20 of which came in the second half, and Brian Cook added 21 as the Illini defeated Eastern Illinois 80-68 Tuesday night at the Assembly Hall. Illinois led by just four points, 45-41, with 16 minutes remaining before going on a 15-4 run to take a 15-point lead. Brown had seven of Illinois' points during the spree. Illinois led by as many as 24 points (78-54) before a late run by Eastern made the final margin 12 points. Roger Powell also chipped in with 16 points for the Illini, who shot nearly 52 percent for the game.

Brian Cook is the reigning Big Ten Co-Player of the Week after leading the Illini to victories over North Carolina and Arkansas. He shares the award with Indiana's Tom Coverdale.

Cook scored a game- and season-high 22 points in Illinois' 92-65 victory over No. 12 North Carolina. He connected on eight of 12 shots from the field, grabbed a game-high eight rebounds and tied his career high with five assists.

Cook was also the leading scorer in Illinois' 62-58 win over Arkansas, scoring 18 points in 39 minutes of action, the most playing time logged by an Illini player this season. Cook made seven of 14 field goals and added four rebounds and four assists versus the Razorbacks.

On the week, Cook averaged 20 points, six rebounds and 4.5 assists per game on combined 58 percent shooting.

The Illinois bench has begun the season in a very productive manner, averaging 29.2 points and 12.0 rebounds, while limiting the opponents' bench to 15.2 points and 7.8 rebounds. Illinois' bench is outscoring the opponents by 14 points per game and is out-rebounding the opponents by over four boards per game.

[to top of second column in this article]

Illinois 32-9, Lehigh 9-7

Illinois 40-18, Arkansas-Pine Bluff 14-8

Illinois 32-9, Western Illinois 14-6

Illinois 39-14, North Carolina 7-1

Illinois 20-9, Arkansas 19-13

Illinois 12-13, Eastern Illinois 18-12

Illinois total 175-72, opponents' total 91-47

The Fighting Illini have begun the 2002-03 season with unselfish play. Illinois leads the Big Ten in assists (20.2 per game), highlighted by a season-high 24 assists vs. Arkansas-Pine Bluff and 23 against both Western Illinois and North Carolina. Illinois has tallied 22 or more assists in four of six games and has recorded assists on 62 percent of its baskets (121 assists on 196 FG) on the season.

Guards Dee Brown and Deron Williams rank third and fifth, respectively, in the Big Ten in assists, with Brown averaging 5.2 and Williams averaging 4.3.

After sitting out the first two games of the season (along with teammate Jerrance Howard) as an NCAA penalty for playing in an unsanctioned summer basketball tournament, senior Brian Cook has returned and immediately established himself in the Illini lineup.

In his first game back, versus Western Illinois, Cook scored a game-high 17 points and grabbed six rebounds. He was Illinois' top scorer and rebounder in the win over North Carolina, scoring a season-high 22 points and pulling down eight boards. He scored a game-high 18 points with four boards vs. Arkansas, then racked up 21 points and had six rebounds versus Eastern Illinois in the last outing.

Cook leads the Big Ten in scoring, averaging 19.5 points on combined 58.8 percent shooting. He is tied with James Augustine for the team lead in rebounding, averaging 6.0 boards. Cook enters the Temple game ranked 20th on the Illinois career scoring list.

Who is the best freshman point guard in college basketball? While it's far too early in the season to begin that debate, it's hard to find a rookie guard who has made more of an impact than Illinois' Dee Brown.

Brown has started every game and leads the Illini in minutes played. He has scored in double figures in four of six games and is tied for second on the team in scoring, averaging 13.3 points. Brown exploded for a career-high 25 points against Eastern Illinois on Tuesday, hitting 10 of 14 shots, including a career-high five 3-pointers.

He ranks third in the Big Ten in assists with 5.2 per game. Brown has turned the ball over just 10 times all season (an average of one turnover for every 19.7 minutes played) and leads the league with an assist-turnover ratio of 3.10. One of the quickest guards in America, Brown's 2.2 steals per game ranks third in the Big Ten.

Senior Sean Harrington has been hot from behind the arc this season. He has made 15 of 27 treys, ranking fifth in the Big Ten in 3-point field goal percentage at 55.6 percent. Harrington nailed a career-high six 3-pointers in Illinois' win over North Carolina on Dec. 3 en route to a career-high 20 points.

Roger Powell has been one of Illinois' most productive players on the court this season. He has scored in double figures in five of six games and is averaging 13.3 points, tied for second on the team in scoring behind Brian Cook. Powell ranks second in the Big Ten in field goal percentage, shooting nearly 62 percent from the field (34-55). He is also Illinois' third-leading rebounder, averaging 5.2 boards per game. Powell's lofty numbers come despite averaging under 23 minutes per game.

Another member of the heralded Illini freshman class to shine has been newcomer James Augustine. He has bolstered the UI frontcourt, averaging 7.0 points and leading the Big Ten in field goal percentage at 68 percent. He has scored in double figures twice, with a season-high 12 points vs. Arkansas Pine-Bluff. Augustine is also tied for the team lead in rebounding, averaging 6.2 boards. He has been Illinois' top rebounder in three of six games, highlighted by back-to-back nine-rebound performances versus Lehigh and Arkansas-Pine Bluff.

Illinois has opened the 2002-03 season by averaging 84.2 points in six wins, outscoring its four opponents by an average of 26.5 points per game. Illinois is shooting a combined 53.1 percent from the field and has shot better than 50 percent in all but one game this season.

Illinois leads the Big Ten in scoring average (84.2), scoring margin (plus 26.5) and field goal percentage (.531), while ranking fourth in 3-point field goal percentage (.397). Illinois' top eight scorers are all shooting at least 43 percent from the field, with six of the top seven shooting better than 51 percent.

[Kent Brown, assistant athletics director and sports information director, University of Illinois]

Articles from the past week

By Jeff Mayfield

[DEC. 9, 2002]  As I've said on more than one occasion, this is a fun time of the year. Almost every sport is in action and making a move. Even the ones that aren't are doing something at their winter meetings. Let's examine a few with local implications:

We saw how the young Illini responded to the bright lights of Assembly Hall. But many wondered how the "kiddie korps" would do outside of the friendly confines of Cham-bana. How 'bout a "W" on the wild and wacky road of Arkansas? Illinois prevailed in a squeaker, 62-58, and yes, they didn't finish it or seal it the way we'd all like to see it. However, I've preached through the years this one important point: You get NO extra brownies for ANY style points. Translation: Even the ugliest of wins is better than a pretty loss! Period!

Brian Cook led the way with 18 points and could have had a lot more. He also had four rebounds, four assists and two steals to offset five turnovers.

Illinois was mauled on the boards 36-21 by Arkansas, including a 15-4 shelling on the offensive glass. The Illinois were able to recover some of those lost possessions by forcing the Hogs into 22 turnovers while committing only 15 themselves.

James Augustine had a huge game for the Illini with 10 points and six rebounds. The Illini got to the FT line only nine times but converted seven of them. That, coupled with 50 percent shooting from the field on the day, all contributed to a big Illini road victory. The statement was that the "W" is more important than any other stat!

Folks wondered what complexion this year's Sacred Heart-Griffin team would bear with a new coach with Quincy roots. And said coach didn't act like he was too worried about our vaunted one-two-two ball press and host of prolific perimeter shooters. By his own admission he may have underestimated us just a bit. According to him, it was 10 times better than he thought it would be, as the final outcome attested to a Railer 65-46 win. In fact, a case could be made that this game was over at halftime, with the Railers exploding to a 30-13 lead at the intermission.

Brock Werner continued his outstanding play by firing in 23 points, mostly bombs from way downtown. It's nice to see him have success after he suffered a knee injury that limited him so much last season. He also has shot hundreds of shots in his driveway over the years, and it's nice to see him hit them in prime time for the Railers.

Erik Young continues to be a force in the middle, as he went for 12 and six, and Cory Farmer added 10.

This is a pretty balanced Railer contingent. If they can continue to work hard and not be satisfied by what they've accomplished, it could be very interesting how good this team could be.

Next up for Lincoln will be a true test is they travel to take on the highly ranked and regarded Spartans of Springfield Southeast in a rare Tuesday night affair.

[to top of second column in this article]

LCC showing its muscle

Lincoln Christian College traveled north to participate in the annual Midwest Regional Tipoff. And LCC came away with two wins, while one team wouldn't even show up to play them. Lincoln clipped Moody 65-58 and then drubbed Emmaus 85-42. That takes the record to 6-5 and precedes a tough matchup at MacMurray Tuesday night before a very difficult tourney at Taylor University this weekend.

However, this team has played a brutal schedule and has acquitted themselves well. After the first of the year they will be playing teams on their level, and it could really be "Katie, bar the door!!!"

New coach Jim Jumper told a "FANdamonium" audience a week ago that his kids were ready for all challenges. He was right again! Just look at how his Hilltoppers handled the defending Class A state champions from Pleasant Plains this past weekend, 52-39. How's that for a home opener? The Toppers received nine points from Craig Erlenbush; Brian Clements had 12 points and seven rebounds; and Justin Anderson had 18 points and five rebounds. Friday's game helped take some of the sting off Tuesday's loss at Niantic.

This is a darn good Mount Pulaski team that figures to make a lot of noise in our area this year.

That's right. YOUR Chicago Bears could REALLY help out my Oakland Raiders with a huge win on Monday night! So, I will once again be rooting like crazy for the Bears tonight with no ill will towards coach Wannstedt or the fish. IF you're looking for a GREAT Christmas gift, how 'bout some Bears tickets? Call Tom at 737-7344 for availability.

Get your dialing fingers ready. TONIGHT, we want to hear from you. Call us at 735-3306 with your question or comment. IF by ANY chance you read this column, could you please e-mail me this afternoon at jmayfiel@lccs.edu. I want to get a feel for talk on the Illini, the NFL, the Railers and Toppers, and others… or just "E" to say you read it, and at least it gives you something to laugh at!

See you at 6 tonight on the Lincoln Daily News LIVE link, FIX-FM 96.3 radio or on CITV-5 Lincoln.

Have a great week, everybody!

[Jeff Mayfield]

• "Quick Monday morning mutterings," posted Dec. 2
• "Semple shines but Bears win in OT," posted Nov. 25
• "Illini make it a Champaign double," posted Nov. 25
• More columns...

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