BLOOMINGTON—Illinois played like a desperate team Thursday night.That didn’t matter to Indiana.Cody Zeller scored 22 points and Victor Oladipo and Christian Watford each had 18, igniting No. 23 Indiana’s late charge to get past the Fighting Illini 84-71. It was the third win in four games for the Hoosiers (19-6, 7-6 Big Ten) and a critical one with four of their next six games at home. For the Illini (16-8, 5-6), it was a devastating blow. D.J. Richardson scored 19 points, Meyers Leonard had 17 and Brandon Paul finished with 13, not nearly enough to prevent Illinois from losing for the fifth time in six games. Illinois has lost five straight in Bloomington when the Hoosiers are ranked and failed to take its first lead in the series since 1975. But they sure didn’t make it easy on the Hoosiers, who were looking to avenge last season’s 24-point loss in Champaign. The teams spent nearly 19 minutes trading baskets and possessions with neither able to a lead bigger than four points. Indiana finally ended the tug-of-war with a quick scoring flurry early in the second half. Jordan Hulls’ 3-pointer broke a 46-46 tie. Zeller then drew a foul on a dunk and made the free throw to give Indiana a 52-46 lead. After grabbing a loose ball, Zeller drove in for a layup to make it 54-46 with 15:29 left.Illinois came right back.Paul and Richardson knocked down 3s on consecutive possessions. Paul followed that with a layup, then hit 1 of 2 free throws on the next possession to get the Illini within 57-55 with 10:58 left. But Zeller and Oladipo combined to make 5 of 6 free throws to start the decisive 15-6 run that gave Indiana a 77-65 lead with 4:49 to go. Illinois didn’t get closer than 10 the rest of the way.Indiana took a 13-6 lead less than 5 minutes into the game, then watched the Illini run off 10 straight points. Neither team led by more than three points until Zeller made two free throws to break a 34-34 tie and Oladipo followed with a driving layup to make it 38-34 with 1:30 left in the half. Starting guard Verdell Jones sat out for Indiana because of a bruised right shoulder.

NEW ORLEANS—Carlos Boozer scored 18 points and the Bulls won their fourth straight game while nearly holding New Orleans to a franchise low in points during a 90-67 rout Wednesday night.Joakim Noah had 13 points and 10 rebounds for the Bulls. Taj Gibson scored 14 and Kyle Korver 12.Star guard Derrick Rose started only two days after leaving the previous game with back spasms. He played 22 minutes and finished with six points, six assists and five rebounds, but the Bulls would have been fine without him.Chris Kaman scored 17 for the Hornets, who have lost seven straight and 22 of 24. New Orleans made its last six shots, including Marco Belinelli’s 3-pointer with a second left, to narrowly surpass the club low of 65 points. The Hornets have usually maintained a hustling and relatively effective defense even as they have lost game after game, but simply wilted against the Bulls, who had seven layups in the third quarter alone. The Bulls’ lead grew to 27 in the period when Rose fed Noah for a fast-break layup.New Orleans shot 6 of 24 in the period (25 percent) and trailed 70-46 heading into the anticlimactic final quarter, when the lead grew as large as 88-60 with 1:19 left.The Bulls finished shooting 46 percent (39 of 85), outscoring New Orleans 58-40 in the paint and 12-1 on fast breaks. The Bulls outrebounded New Orleans 49-39. Tom Thibodeau is renowned for his defensive acumen, which spelled trouble for a Hornets squad that came into the game 27th in the NBA in scoring, with an average of just below 88 points. The Hornets finished shooting 37 percent (28 of 75) and trailed throughout for the third time in nine games.The Bulls scored the first nine points of the game while struggling New Orleans missed its first five shots. The Bulls’ lead grew to 13 when Noah picked off Kaman’s pass and raced the other way for an uncontested dunk.Kaman helped more than he hurt, though, scoring 10 of New Orleans’ 14 points in the first quarter.The Bulls built their lead up to 15 on Gibson’s fast-break dunk while Rose was on the bench, and the lead remained in double digits for the remainder of the period. The halftime score stood at 44-31 after Belinelli’s layup.

NOTES—Kaman hit a jumper at the first quarter horn that would have given him 12 points at that juncture, but it was reviewed on replay and disallowed. … The Bulls improved to 5-2 on their nine-game road trip, which concludes with games at Charlotte on Friday and Boston on Sunday. … The Bulls have won seven straight against New Orleans and will seek a fourth straight season sweep Feb. 28 in the United Center… The Hornets last defeated the Bulls on March 17, 2008, in New Orleans. … Jarrett Jack returned from a three-game absence (sore left knee) and started at point guard. He played nearly 28 minutes and had four points and three assists. … Actor Will Ferrell announced the starting lineups, adding fabricated personal notes about each player. For example, Ferrell said the 6-foot-9, 266-pound Boozer, a 10-year veteran, “still lives with his mother.” … During the game, Ferrell sat courtside with actors Dylan McDermott and Zach Galifianakis, while actor Jesse Eisenberg sat on the baseline. … The Hornets have scored as few as 65 points twice in team history, once in a victory over Miami on Dec. 20, 2000, and once in a loss to Boston on March 13, 2003.

ROSEMONT—Darius Johnson-Odom scored 23 points and Jamil Wilson added 18 points and nine rebounds to lead No. 18 Marquette to an 89-76 victory againstDePaul on Monday night.Trailing 41-29, Johnson-Odom scored nine points during an 11-2 run by the Golden Eagles (20-5, 9-3 Big East) to close the first half. He opened the second half by hitting a 3 that tied the game at 43, and Jae Crowder gave the Golden Eagles their first lead of the game with a free throw. Vander Blue hit a jumper to cap off a 16-3 run to open the second half and give Marquette a 56-46 lead.Marquette rebounded from a blowout loss to Notre Dame on Saturday that ended a seven-game winning streak. Cleveland Melvin scored 22 points and Jamee Crockett added 17 for DePaul (11-12, 2-9), which has lost 36 consecutive games against ranked opponents since beating No. 17 Villanova 84-76 on Jan. 3, 2008.Despite playing on the road, Marquette was backed by a strong contingent of Golden Eagles fans, who were not heard from much until late in the first half.Johnson-Odom and Crowder, were limited to 12 and four points by Notre Dame. But Johnson-Odom was aggressive from the start and Crowder finished with 14 points and Blue had 12.Davante Gardner, who normally starts for the Golden Eagles, was sidelined for the third straight game with a knee injury.Marquette has won six of the last seven in the series, but lost 51-50 in its last trip to Allstate Arena in 2010. Mike Stovall hit a jumper off a loose ball with 0.7 seconds remaining to help DePaul end a 24-game Big East regular-season losing streak.The Blue Demons are 3-38 in the Big East since.DePaul played long spans with starting guard Brandon Young on the bench. DePaul coach Oliver Purnell was visibly upset with Young at times.DePaul lost forward Moses Morgan midway through the first half with a concussion. Morgan, trying to guard Johnson-Odom, flipped over Johnson-Odom’s back and landed on his head. Morgan was down for several minutes and was observed by team trainers and paramedics for several minutes before walking to the bench and then heading to the locker room. He returned to the bench later in the first half. Morgan missed Saturday’s loss to Cincinnati after he fainted in practice on Thursday.Leading 26-25, DePaul scored 11 consecutive points. Melvin scored seven points in the span, including a 3-pointer that put DePaul up 37-25.Miami Marlins manager Ozzie Guillen, who used to manage the White Sox, watched the game with his two sons from courtside seats.

NEWARK—Carlos Boozer scored 24 points and the Bulls beat the New Jersey Nets 108-87 Monday night. Luol Deng scored 19 points and C.J. Watson added 14 points and 10 assists in place of Derrick Rose. The reigning league MVP played less than 11 minutes in the first half and the Bulls said at halftime that he would not return because of back spasms. The Bulls are 4-2 six games into a nine-game road trip that is the Bulls’ longest of the season. Deron Williams scored 25 points for the Nets, who only dressed nine players. Starting shooting guard Anthony Morrow missed the game due to the death of his grandmother, while Brook Lopez, Damion James, Mehmet Okur, MarShon Brooks and DeShawn Stevenson were out with injuries.Morrow is expected to return to the team for Wednesday’s game against the Pistons. Keith Bogans started in place of Morrow. The Nets signed Bogans last week. The ninth-year veteran played for the Bulls last season and averaged 4.4 points and 1.2 assists while starting in all 82 games.With the game all but decided when the final quarter began, the announced 15,327 in attendance repeatedly chanted for Bulls power forward Brian Scalabrine, who played the first four years of his career in New Jersey.He received a loud, sustained ovation when he checked in with 2:06 remaining, and when he made a jumper from the left corner.

NOTES—New Jersey wore its American Basketball Association blue jerseys for the first of the five Hardwood Classics Nights the organization has scheduled for this season…..Rip Hamilton missed his fifth straight game with a thigh injury. He did not make the trip to Newark because of “personal issue’s he’s taking care of,” Tom Thibodeau said.

INDIANAPOLIS—The closest Super Bowl ever to Chicago saw two East Coast teams rematch from four years ago.This was a repeat result wise of February 2008 as The New York Giants again beat the New England Patriots, this time 21-17 as Ahmad Bradshaw scored the game winning touchdown from 6 yards out with 57 second left. Bill Belichick ordered his defense to ‘let’ Bradshaw score to save his offense some time. That stragigy failed for Mike Holmgren and Green Bay against Denver in January 1998,and it did not work this time either as the Giants defense stopped the Pats to win their fourth franchise Super Bowl.

Stephen Gustkowski kicked off to Jerrel Jerigan to start Super Bowl XLVI,and the Giants picked up three first downs with Hakeem Nicks making a great grab for the third one. A pair of sacks including one by former Bear Mark Anderson forced a punt by former Illini Steve Weatherford,which was downed inside the New England 5. On first down,Tom Brady scrambled in his end zone,then unleashed one about 45 yards-to nobody,and Referee John Partry called it intentional grounding for a safety to give the Giants a 2-0 lead just 6:08 into the game.It was the first safety in a Supoer Bowl in twenty years.After the free kick by Gostwkowski,the Giants started at their 22,and Manning moved them deep into Patriots territory. A pass inside the five was fumbled and the Pats recovered,but they had twelve men on the field and it became a first and goal.Manning hit Victor Cruz in the end zone for the game’s first touchdown and a 9-0 NYG lead with 3:24 to go in the quarter.New England got the ball and started a run of 17 straight points. The Pats began moving the ball.They were at the NYG 17 as the period ended.

The Patriots got to the 11 and on 4th down Gustkowski kicked a 29 yard field goal to get his team on the board.Each defense got a stop,then the Giants again began marching,but a holding call nullfied a first down and the Giants punted again with Weatherford kicking it out at the 4.But New England went 96 yards,and with :08 left in the half got a yard TD pass from Brady to Danny Woodhead to take a 10-9 lead at halftime.

New England’s momentum carried over into the third quarter as they carved up the Giants defense,Brady not missing a single pass on that drive and he hit Aaron Hernandez on a 12 yard TD pass.He also hit Chad Ochocinco for 20 yards.It became 17-9. Brady’s 17 straight completions was a Super Bowl record. The Giants answered on their first series of the second half,but had to settle for a Lawrence Tynes 38 yard field goal.

The Giants sacked Brady and held,forcing a punt and took over at the N.Eng 48.They NFC Champs moved to the ten,but on third down,Manning was sacked and Tynes kicked a 33 yarder to cut the Pats lead to 17-15 with :35 left in the third quarter.

As the fourth quarter started,Chase Blackburn picked off a Brady pass at his own eight.The first interception of the game.Nothing happened until the final drive by the Giants.

NOTES—Eli Manning was the MVP for the second time in Super Bowl play…..Madonna’s half time songs were: VOGUE,OPEN YOUR HEART,LIKE A PRAYER.

LES

CHAMPAIGN—John Shurna scored 24 points to lead Northwestern past Illinois 74-70 on Sunday.Reggie Hearn added 20 points on 7 of 8 shooting for the Wildcats (14-8, 4-6), who shot 60 percent from the floor to win back-to-back Big Ten games for the first time this season.Brandon Paul scored 22 points and Meyers Leonard had 21 for Illinois (16-7, 5-5). Leonard was 10 of 12 from the field, making his first nine shots.Northwestern opened the game with four quick 3-pointers to take an 18-9 lead, but a driving layup from Tracy Abrams topped a 20-11 run for Illinois to tie the game at 29.Illinois didn’t hold a lead until 16 minutes left in the second half, and an Abrams jumper with 5:17 left tied the score at 56-56, but NU went on a 16-8 run from there to take control.

Kendrick Perry’s 28 points led Youngstown State to an 80-63 victory over Loyola on Sunday.Perry, a sophomore who nearly matched his career best of 30 set last Tuesday in a win at Milwaukee, was 11 for 14 from the field on Sunday, and also contributed seven steals and six assists.Blake Allen scored 19 points, Damian Eargle added 12 and Ashen Ward finished with 11 points for the Penguins (13-10, 8-5), whose Horizon League win total is their highest since joining 11 seasons ago. They shot 63 percent from the field on Sunday.Youngstown led 37-30 at halftime, began the second half with a 9-0 run and led by double figures the rest of the way.Walt Gibler led the Ramblers with 18 points and Jordan Hicks added 16. Loyola (5-18, 0-13) has dropped 11 straight since beating Canisius on Dec. 22.

Jeremy Montgomery made four 3-pointers and led four teammates in double figures with 14 points as Cleveland State beat UIC 70-42 on Sunday. Trevon Harmon added 13 points for the Vikings (20-4, 10-2), who have won five straight lead the Horizon League by a half-game over Valparaiso. Cleveland State reached the 20-victory mark for the fourth time in the last five seasons.Anton Grady had 12 points and 10 rebounds, Tim Kamczyc had 10 points and Aaron Pogue blocked five shots for the Vikings, who made 56 percent of their shots from the field. They made 63 percent in the second half, including 73 percent (8 of 11) from 3-point range to pull away from a 24-17 halftime margin.Darrin Williams led the Flames (7-16, 3-10) with 12 points and three blocks. Hayden Humes scored 11 points and Daniel Barnes had 10 points and four steals. UIC shot 27 percent.

MILWAUKEE—Derrick Rose knows how important Luol Deng is to the Bulls.Rose scored 26 points and had 13 assists and Deng added 21 points in his return after missing seven games due to injury, as the Bulls easily beat the Milwaukee Bucks 113-90 Saturday night.Playing before a sellout Bradley Center crowd that seemed to be filled with more fans rooting for the Bulls, Deng scored on a layup from Rose just 76 seconds into the game.The Bucks trailed by 24 at halftime and never threatened in the second half, resting all five starters in the fourth quarter. Deng was averaging 15.9 points and 7.5 rebounds before tearing a ligament in his left wrist Jan. 21 against Charlotte. He consulted with doctors before deciding against surgery, and his initial return against the Bucks appeared promising.The veteran forward made 9 of 19 shots and had nine rebounds in 41 minutes.Deng iced the wrist for several minutes after the game, but said doctors told him he couldn’t make the injury any more severe by playing.Kyle Korver had 18 points, Joakim Noah had 14 points and C.J. Watson added 13.The Bucks were coming off an 88-80 loss to hapless Detroit on Friday night. Coach Scott Skiles said before the game Saturday his team would get blown out in the first half against the Bulls if they played just as poorly.He was prophetic. The Bucks trailed 67-43 at halftime, allowing the Bulls to shoot 62 percent to the Bucks 36 percent in the first half. The Bulls also held a 28-13 rebounding advantage in the first half.The Bulls scored 113 points despite only going 3 of 4 from the free throw line.Leading scorer Brandon Jennings was in foul trouble for much of the game, and played 10 minutes in the first half and 22 overall. He didn’t score until hitting a baseline jumper midway through the third quarter and was held to eight points.Drew Gooden scored a season-high 24 points. Rookie Tobias Harris was the only other Bucks player in double figures with 19 points.Rose scored 18 in the first half with eight assists and no turnovers. Korver came off the bench to score 15 in the first half. Watson’s long baseline jumper gave the Bulls a 46-25 lead, their first lead of at least 20 points, with 5:51 left in the second quarter.With Jennings on the bench for much of the first half, the Bucks turned to Gooden. He scored 18 points, making all 10 of his free throws, to lead the Bucks, in the first half.   

NOTES—Rose said his back tightened in the second quarter, but he didn’t think it would be anything serious…..The Bulls received a much louder response from the crowd than the Bucks, with their fans breaking into numerous chants throughout the game…..The 67 first-half points tied the most points scored by the Bulls in the first half this season…..Bucks G Stephen Jackson did not play due to a coach’s decision for the third time in four games…Rip Hamilton missed his fourth consecutive game due to a groin/thigh injury.