CHAMPAIGN, IL (Chambana Today) – The Fighting Illini fell to No. 1 Tennessee on Saturday at the State Farm Center in Champaign. The Volunteers narrowly escaped with a 66-64 victory, courtesy of a buzzer-beating layup from sixth man Jordan Gainey, keeping their undefeated record intact.
The game was defined by physicality, as the referees called a combined 45 fouls. Offensively, Illinois struggled, shooting just 29.4 percent (15-for-51) from the field. Despite their offensive woes, the Illini put together their best defensive performance of the season, stifling a Tennessee squad that ran over its previous opponents.
For the first time this season, Illinois lost the rebounding battle. Tennessee grabbed 42 boards to Illinois’ 37.
Freshman Kasparas Jakucionis continued to impress offensively, scoring 22 points – his fifth consecutive 20-point game. However, he struggled with ball security, recording a career-high seven turnovers. A late-game miscue on a sideline inbounds pass, which led to a Tennessee dunk, was a critical moment that swung momentum in the Volunteers’ favor.
On the defensive end, Illinois held Tennessee to its second-lowest scoring output of the season and limited the Volunteers to just 32.3 percent shooting from the field. The Illini’s performance against the nation’s top-ranked team showcased their resilience and potential, even in a loss. Next, Illinois plays at Missouri on December 22.