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GAME NOTES: Assembly Hall in Champaign is the site of today's Big Ten Conference clash between the Illinois Fighting Illini and visiting Minnesota Golden Gophers.

Minnesota carried a modest two-game win streak into Wednesday's matchup with national powerhouse Purdue, but that home game ended in a 59-58 defeat. The Golden Gophers are now 16-11 overall, including 7-8 in conference action, and they hope to improve a 2-6 record in true road games today.

As for Illinois, it managed to halt a two-game slide with a 51-44 victory over Michigan on Tuesday. The 44 points allowed marked the second-best defensive effort of the season for the Illini, who are 18-10 overall and 10-5 in conference. Of the 14 home games the club has played this season, 12 have resulted in victory.

Illinois owns a commanding 114-61 series advantage over Minnesota, and the teams split a pair of meetings last season.

Minnesota is scoring 73.9 ppg this season while holding opponents to 64.0 ppg. There are three double-digit scorers in the fold for the Golden Gophers, and Lawrence Westbrook leads the way with 13.1 ppg. Blake Hoffarber checks in with 11.3 ppg, and Damian Johnson rounds out the trio with 10.3 ppg. Ralph Sampson III was tremendous for Minnesota against Purdue, as he scored 21 points on 7- of-11 shooting from the field. Johnson added 12 points for the Golden Gophers, who earned a 14-4 advantage in points from the foul line and only turned the ball over eight times. Unfortunately, they forced just seven giveaways and hit three fewer three pointers than did the Boilermakers.

Demetri McCamey is the leading scorer for Illinois this season with 15.2 ppg, and he has racked up a stellar total of 189 assists. Mike Tisdale provides 11.7 ppg, while D.J. Richardson checks in with 10.7 ppg. Rounding out a foursome of double-digit scorers is Mike Davis with 10.5 ppg and 8.6 rpg. The Illini are posting 71.9 ppg through 28 outings, and they are allowing 66.3 ppg to foes on just 39.6 percent field goal efficiency. McCamey posted 14 points and nine rebounds against Michigan on Tuesday, and Davis added 13 points and 12 boards. The Illini got away with their own 37.3 percent shooting because they held the Wolverines to 24.6 percent field goal efficiency. Illinois also earned a 50-35 rebounding advantage.

The edge goes to the home team today in what figures to be a competitive affair. McCamey will do enough to will the Illini to victory.