Dec 11, 2003

Box Score

AP Photos

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) - Coming off a lackluster loss to Providence, No. 14 Illinois didn't need any extra motivation against Maryland-Eastern Shore on Thursday night. The Hawks obliged anyway.

Roger Powell scored 19 points and Illinois scored the first 16 points in an 85-43 victory that was.

Just over seven minutes into the game, it was 16-0 and the Illini (5-2) were rolling.

Luther Head had 16 points for Illinois, which rebounded from their 19-point loss to Providence in the Jimmy V Classic on Tuesday.

James Augustine scored six points in the opening run and Illinois had four dunks while Eastern Shore missed its first 12 shots.

Jason McKinnon's short jumper with 12:53 left in the half gave the Hawks (0-2) their first points - on their 13th possession. Illinois pushed the lead to 27 on Dee Brown's layup with 1:55 left in the half. Powell scored 13 points in the first half, which ended with Illinois leading 46-19 and the Hawks with 17 turnovers.

Illinois' lead grew as large as 45 points in the second half. Illinois guard Deron Williams left the game with 18:57 remaining after colliding with an Eastern Shore player near midcourt. Williams, holding his jaw, immediately left for the locker room and later had X-rays taken at a hospital.

His status for Saturday's game against Memphis was undetermined.

After Williams was injured, Weber also pulled Brown from the game. Brown was in a similar collision on a screen in the first half, saying he "couldn't see" during much of the remainder of the half. Weber said he wanted to prevent the potential for more injuries.

"We're hoping Deron just was hit in the face and has a bruise and maybe a black eye," Weber said. "He was totally conscious."

Illinois has won 20 in a row at home.

Trotter scored 12 points for Eastern Shore, which was playing its first game in 18 days, and McKinnon added nine points and 10 rebounds.

"You can't talk (Illinois) into being afraid," Eastern Shore coach Thomas Trotter said. "Most of these guys are top 100 players, so they think they're better than you, and you have to go out and prove (otherwise). We weren't tough enough to do it. You can talk, but you have to back it up."

Portions of this story were omitted.