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Illinois downs Gonzaga

Dec 5, 2010 - 3:25 AM Seattle, WA (Sports Network) - Mike Tisdale and D.J. Richardson each posted 15 points as 20th-ranked Illinois downed Gonzaga, 73-61, at Key Arena.

Brandon Paul had 12 points, Demetri McCamey added 11 with seven assists and Mike Davis clocked in with 10 points for the Illini (8-1), who won their fifth straight game thanks to shooting 12-of-23 from long distance.

Robert Sacre poured in 15 points with a game-high 10 rebounds for the Bulldogs (4-3), who had won two in a row coming in. Elias Harris scored 12 off the bench and Steven Gray scored 10 in the loss.

In a tight opening 20 minutes, neither team led by more than four until Illinois used a 12-6 run to end the half.

Paul got the burst started with under four minutes left on two free throws, then kept it going with a layup and back-to-back treys. His final one provided the Illini with a 34-28 margin at the break.

Tisdale then sank a pair from beyond the arc to frame an 8-4 burst to start the second half and give the Illini a 42-32 edge roughly two minutes in.

Two from the line by Sacre got the Bulldogs within 42-37 before four minutes elapsed, but Richardson connected on a three to establish an eight-point margin and Illinois began to pull away.

Bill Cole drained a trey and Illinois was once again ahead by double digits at 53-41. He sank one more and McCamey added a third and the Illini took a 59-41 advantage with 12:10 remaining in the contest.

Gray's shot from long distance and two free throws got Gonzaga within 67-57 with 6 1/2 to play, but Richardson hit a jumper roughly 90 seconds later and the Zags kept missing long shots down the stretch in a futile attempt to come back.

Game Notes

Illinois has won three of the four meetings with Gonzaga...Cole posted eight points for the Illini...Gonzaga connected on just 3-of-16 from beyond the arc.