CHAMPAIGN – When he packs for Michigan State in two weeks, Ron Turner is going to take a big suitcase.

Besides all the usual coach stuff – whistle, playbook, headset – Turner will need some space for a lucky coin, a lucky singer and a lucky movie.

Turner also will bring his Illinois football team, which played the best game in his two years Saturday against Indiana. The Illini ended a 10-game Big Ten home skid with a convincing 31-16 win against the Hoosiers.

"It was a great win for us, something we needed," Turner said. "After what we've gone through the last few weeks, we needed to get a win, get some confidence and get going. Our guys really came out determined to make sure that was going to happen."

Turner started the week off right. On Monday, the Illinois chapter of 4-H presented him with a special coin. Its value just went up.

On Friday night, Turner's team squeezed into a soldout showing of "The Waterboy." Nothing motivates like an Adam Sandler football comedy.

And Saturday just before kickoff, Turner's favorite Olympic skier, Picaboo Street, bravely sang the national anthem to the 31,388 chilly fans at Memorial Stadium.

"We're going to try to get her to East Lansing in two weeks," Turner said.

Before he worried about the Spartans, Turner had some backs to pat on his own team.

First, he congratulated his 12 seniors, who became the first class since 1995 to close the home season with a win.

"This is a good group of guys," Turner said. "They believe in us. They believe in the program. They know that when we get this thing turned around and we're competitive each and every game that they're going to be a big part of it."

Next, Turner congratulated his quarterback. Junior Kirk Johnson, making his third start, kept the first down markers moving.

Indiana used a zone defense against the Illini. Bad idea. Johnson picked the Hoosiers apart, completing 20 of 27 passes for 157 yards.

"Kirk Johnson was tremendously efficient," Turner said. "We threw a lot of short, underneath stuff against these guys.

"He did a real nice job running the offense."

Turner congratulated running back Steve Havard. A blip on the stat sheet for six games, Havard had 146 yards and two touchdowns rushing and returned a kickoff 94 yards for another score.

And Turner gave a hand to his defense, which chased Indiana quarterback Antwaan Randle El all game. The Illini held him to one touchdown.

The Illini coaches weren't thrilled with the defense after the opening series of the game. Randle El ran for 46 yards on an 84-yard touchdown drive. The freshman went the final 18 yards himself, speeding untouched into the end zone.

Indiana didn't have another touchdown drive. Illinois stuffed the Hoosiers on their next possession, setting up the offense at the 37.

A combination of short passes by Johnson and runs by Havard helped the Illini tie 7-7 with nine seconds left in the first quarter. Havard scored on a 4-yard run, skipping to his right and cruising into the end zone.

Illinois didn't wait long to get the ball back.

While watching film of the Hoosiers earlier in the week, the Illini saw they might be vulnerable to a trick play.

Neil Rackers' dribbled an onside kick and Johnny Rogers recovered at the Illinois 48.

"We didn't execute it exactly what we wanted to do on the thing, but it worked," Turner said. "That's the bottom line."

Seventeen seconds later, Illinois had the lead. After gaining 7 yards on first down, Havard raced 45 more for his second touchdown.

Havard didn't have as much fun on Illinois' next possession. On a second-down play, Havard gained 5 yards before Curtis Randle El smacked him at the 35 and forced a fumble. Indiana's Mike McGrath scooped the ball and went 35 yards for a touchdown.

"Everybody makes a mistake and that was his (Havard's) one for the whole game," Illini safety Bobby Jackson said.

Having a turnover returned for a touchdown wasn't new new to the Illinois offense. It had seen five balls go the other way this season.

"That's one of those things where in the past something like that happens and we might just go in the tank," Johnson said.

The Illini avoided the tank against the Hoosiers.

They never let Indiana tie the game. After McGrath's touchdown, Fred Wakefield blocked Andy Payne's extra point try. Illinois kept its 14-13 lead.

Illinois took control of the game with two scores in 34 seconds, separated by the halftime break.

Johnson led an 11-play drive in the final minutes of the first half. He hit George McDonald-Ashford on a 3-yard touchdown pass with 16 seconds left for a 21-13 lead.

"That was probably a big boost for us," Turner said. "There was a lot of energy in the locker room at halftime. Guys were feeling good pretty good."

They felt better 18 seconds into the second half. That's how long it took Havard to go 94 yards with Payne's kickoff.

"It was great to get a little protection for the lead," Johnson said. "Steve made a great run on that play. There were two or three times I thought they were going to tackle him. He just kept snaking his way through there, taking a good angle."