CHAMPAIGN, IL (Chambana Today) – In a physical, foul-heavy contest, Illini basketball held on to beat Missouri 80-77 in their annual border rivalry game. Illinois dominated the boards, outrebounding Mizzou 42-30, and held the Tigers to just three 3-pointers.
Freshman guard Kasparas Jakucionis hit a turnaround jumper with 28 seconds remaining to give Illinois a 79-77 lead. He finished with a game-high 21 points, while Kylan Boswell contributed 16 points, nine rebounds, and five assists. Though he struggled from the field, Boswell’s free-throw shooting (11-for-12) and clutch defense were crucial.
Illinois heads back home against Chicago State on December 29.