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CHAMPAIGN, Illinois (Ticker) -- No. 2 Illinois risked dropping its season opener by facing a tough opponent in Gonzaga. But coach Bill Self's team was rewarded with the rediscovery of its winning formula from last season. Brian Cook had 18 points and nine rebounds and Robert Archibald collected 16 and seven boards as Illinois proved too strong inside in a 76-58 victory in the first meeting between the schools. Corey Bradford scored 17 points and backcourt partner Frank Williams added 13 as the Fighting Illini (1-0) used their inside-outside game to extend their winning streak at Assembly Hall to 19 games. Despite the Bulldogs' 40-30 rebounding edge, Illinois showcased its dominance in the paint by registering 22 more free-throw attempts. The Fighting Illini went 30-of-38 from the line, with Cook making all seven of his attempts. A noted 3-point shooter, Bradford sank two of Illinois' six shots from beyond the arc as the Illini improved to 84-13 in season openers. Williams, the preseason Big Ten Conference Player of the Year, fell just shy of his 14.9-point average of last season, when the Illini reached the NCAA Tournament Midwest Region final. Former McDonald's High School All-Americans Cook and Williams were listed among the preseason candidates for the 2002 Wooden Award. Dan Dickau, the reigning West Coast Conference Player of the Year and also a Wooden nominee, led all scorers with 19 points and Zach Gourde had 15 and 12 rebounds for Gonzaga. But the Bulldogs lost for the first time in three season openers under coach Mark Few. Illinois may have been facing Gonzaga for the first time, but Self, who is in his second season at Champaign, was well aware of the Bulldogs' abilities. In his first game as Tulsa coach on November 21, 1997, Self endured a 78-40 humiliation at the hands of Gonzaga. The Illini started the second half with a 36-29 lead over the Bulldogs, who have advanced to the "Sweet 16" of the NCAA Tournament each of the last three years. Bulldogs center Cory Violette, who pulled down 12 boards, kept the deficit at nine with a follow shot with 12:20 to play. But Damir Krupalija hit a 3-pointer to finish off a 23-13 burst over the next eight minutes as the Illini took their largest lead at 71-52. Cook hit a shot from beyond the arc just 1:01 into the contest as Illinois extended its streak of consecutive games with a 3-pointer to 129 games. Gonzaga lost for the seventh time in its last eight meetings with Big Ten schools. The Bulldogs were beaten by Michigan State in the South Region semifinals last March. Their only success against the Big Ten came in 1999, then they knocked off Minnesota in the NCAA Tournament.
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