CHAMPAIGN, Ill., Jan. 22 (UPI) -- Brian Cook scored 22 points Wednesday night as 15th-ranked Illinois bounced back from a pair of losses with a 75-62 Big Ten Conference victory over Purdue, which missed its final 14 shots.
Purdue (11-4, 3-1 Big Ten) had its last lead at 7-6 before the Fighting Illini went ahead by as many as 12 points in the first half. The Boilermakers used a 10-2 burst to get within 33-29 at halftime and twice got within a point early in the second half.
But Illinois regrouped and opened a 57-49 lead on a dunk by Nick Smith with eight minutes to go.
Purdue again did not fold, running off seven straight points and climbing within 57-56 on two free throws by Willie Deane with 6:46 remaining. The Boilermakers, however, did not make a basket the rest of the way.
Luther Head chipped in 15 points, Dee Brown scored 13 and Deron Williams collected 11, seven rebounds and seven assists for Illinois (12-3, 3-2), which was swept by Iowa and Indiana on its recent road trip.
Deane made just three of 11 shots but finished with 14 points to lead Purdue, which had a six-game winning streak snapped.
