Illinois basketball is getting strong performances from its freshman class as Will Riley was named Big Ten Freshman of the Week on Monday, and Kasparas Jakucionis earned a spot on the Oscar Robertson Trophy Midseason Watch List.
Illinois denied Maryland coach Brenda Frese her 600th victory at the school. Maryland has lost four of five while Illinois has won four in a row. Bryant finished with 20 points.
Will Riley ignited a second-half surge, scoring 20 of his 24 points to help No. 18 Illinois rally from an 11-point deficit and secure an 87-79 win over Ohio State on Sunday.
Nebraska (13-8, 3-7) defeated #18 Illinois (14-7, 6-5) 80-74 in overtime, snapping the Illini’s nine-game win streak over the Huskers. The loss also broke Illinois’ three-game win streak at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
In a commanding 74-38 victory over Purdue on Monday night at State Farm Center, Illinois not only secured its first win against the Boilermakers since 2021 but also witnessed Kendall Bostic set a new career rebounding record.
Efrem Winters, a legend in Illinois basketball during the 1980s, has passed away at the age of 61 following a prolonged battle with illness. Winters, known for his slam dunks and dominant presence in the post, played a pivotal role in restoring Illinois to national prominence under Coach Lou Henson.
Illinois extended its dominance over Northwestern with a 78-55 victory at State Farm Center, marking the team’s ninth-straight win against their in-state rivals, a streak dating back to February 28.
Illinois delivered a dominant performance on Thursday night, cruising to an 85-60 road victory over Northwestern. With the win, the Illini claimed their fifth consecutive victory over the Wildcats and improved to 14-5 overall and 4-4 in Big Ten play.
Illinois struggled on Thursday night as they fell 91-70 to Maryland, despite standout performances from several players. Maryland’s Julian Reese dominated the game with 27 points and 17 rebounds, while Derik Queen added 25 points, leading the Terrapins to a commanding victory over the No. 17 ranked Illini.
No. 22 Michigan State women’s basketball beat Illinois 86-68 on Sunday at the State Farm Center. The Spartans secured their third straight victory and their second consecutive Big Ten road win, improving to 15-3 overall and 5-2 in conference play.