Illini hammer Valparaiso

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Dee Brown had 19 points to lead all five Illinois starters in double figures for the second straight game, and the top-ranked Illini beat Valparaiso 93-56 on Sunday.

Brown scored five points in a 20-5 run midway through the second half that gave the Illini (10-0) a 39-point lead over the Crusaders (2-6), who saw a two-game winning streak end.

The Illini were playing their first game in eight days but weren't fazed by the layoff. They shot 59 percent from the field in a game full of plays that seemed to draw as many "oohs" and "ahs" as cheers from the sellout crowd of 16,618.

Deron Williams scored 15 points, Roger Powell Jr. had 14, Luther Head had 11 points and nine assists and James Augustine had 10 points and nine rebounds for Illinois.