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CHICAGO (Ticker) -- Sixth-ranked Illinois denied Arkansas coach Nolan Richardson his 500th career victory, barely. Frank Williams scored 25 points, converting 18-of-24 free throws, and Robert Archibald added 16 before drawing a crucial charge with under six seconds left as Illinois held on for a 94-91 victory at the United Center. Williams registered his final two points from the line with 4.5 seconds remaining. The Preseason All-American then stole the ball from guard Brandon Dean as the Fighting Illini (7-2) bounced back from their loss to No. 8 Arizona in Phoenix on Tuesday. The Illini held a 92-91 advantage with 5.5 seconds left. Archibald then established position in the lane as Dean drove to the basket. Dean made contact with the 6-11 forward and Arkansas' apparent go-ahead layup was waved off by the officials. "The time was running down on the clock and I had to decide whether to come in and help or stay out by the 3-point line with my guy," Archibald said. "When I came in, Damir (Krupalija) actually got there first and (Dean) knocked down both of us. There should have been two charges called on the play." Richardson, whose career record slipped to 499-195 in 20-plus seasons, had a different perspective. "You don't make a call like that at the end of a game, especially when you didn't call it throughout the rest of the game," he said. "It was not a very convenient call for us, but it was for Illinois." Richardson, who guided the Razorbacks to the 1994 NCAA Championship and the 1995 NCAA final, saw his record in 16-plus years with Arkansas drop to 380-158. Dean scored a career-high 29 points and Chicago native Jannero Pargo had 28, including seven 3-pointers, for the Razorbacks (4-3). Arkansas enjoyed its biggest lead with 17:49 remaining as Dean hit the first of his three second-half shots from beyond the arc to open up a 48-36 cushion. Pargo also sank a 3-pointer just over eight minutes later to keep Arkansas' lead at eight. But during the next three minutes, the Razorbacks were whistled for four fouls, sending the Fighting Illini to the line three times and allowing them to close the gap to three points. "I'm disappointed and upset at how the game was called," Richardson said. "I've got a group of kids in the locker room that are very upset and disappointed." Guard Corey Bradford put home a layup, then sank a 22-foot jumper with 6:28 left as Illinois took its first lead of the game, 71-70, and never trailed thereafter. The Illini recorded 17 turnovers in the opening 20 minutes. They struggled to break down the Razorbacks' pressure defense and found themselves behind at the half, 38-36. "To be ready for their pressure, we practiced against six or seven," Illinois coach Bill Self said. "But their five are quicker than our seven. I think we attacked them better in the second half." The Illini reduced their errors after the break, turning over the ball just five more times. "The game changed in the second half when the calls changed," Richardson said. Illinois has won both of its all-time contests with Arkansas. Their only previous meeting came on December 14, 1949. |
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