1/20- Illini Destroy Ohio State

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Mike Tisdale scored 15 points and Illinois won its first game this season with a national ranking, holding off Ohio State 67-49 on Tuesday night. On Monday, the Illini (16-3, 4-2 Big Ten) made their first appearance in The Associated Press Top 25 since the final poll of 2005-06. It was the Illinis first win over the Buckeyes (13-4, 3-3) in six games. Illinois took the lead for good in the opening 5 minutes and then sealed the win with a 22-9 run in the second half. The Buckeyes missed five straight shots from the field and committed six turnovers in a 6-minute span in the first half as Illinois turned a 13-9 lead into a 21-12 advantage. Dominique Keller scored half of his 12 points in that run for the Illini. Illinois coach Bruce Weber put Keller into the game early for the 7-foot-1 Tisdale, who, at 235 pounds, struggled with 6-8, 255-pound Ohio State forward Dallas Lauderdale. Keller, more solidly built at 6-8 and 230 pounds than the lanky Tisdale, proved a physical match for Lauderdale, who finished with five points and five boards. And when Keller, who had six rebounds, cooled off offensively, Tisdale found his touch. The sophomore scored all but four of his points in the second half. The Buckeyes opened the half with a 6-0 run that temporarily quieted the Assembly Hall crowd. Thats when Tisdale came to life. He hit a soft hook shot over Lauderdale with 16:23 left that put Illinois up 43-30, then added another four points over the next 2 minutes. Demetri McCamey had 13 points for Illinois and Chester Frazier had 10. B.J. Mullens had 14 points for the Buckeyes, who had won three straight, and freshman William Buford had 13. Ohio State had a season-high 19 turnovers.