University of Illinois
1-0,0-0Big Ten
FDU
0-1,0-0NEC
| Team | 1 | 2 | F |
|---|---|---|---|
| FDU | 20 | 25 | 45 |
| Illinois | 67 | 53 | 120 |
November 2, 2026 | Men's Basketball
RECAP
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – No. 3 Illinois cruised to a record-setting 120-45 victory over FDU to open the regular season at State Farm Center on Monday night.
With six scorers in double figures, the Fighting Illini set several new program records in the contest, including its 75-point margin of victory and 19 made 3-pointers.
Quentin Coleman marked his collegiate debut with a double-double, collecting 13 points, 10 rebounds, six assists, and three steals. Fellow freshman Ethan Brown put together his own dazzling debut with 12 points, nine rebounds, seven assists, and two steals.
Stefan Vaaks and Andrej Stojakovic both finished with a team-best 20 points. Vaaks also added four assists and three rebounds while making five 3-pointers on his Illini debut, while Stojakovic contributed seven boards, four assists, and a block.
Tomislav Ivisic started his campaign with 10 points, four rebounds, and two blocks. Zavier Zens tallied 12 points, three offensive rebounds, and two assists. Lucas Morillo logged nine points and eight rebounds.
Holding the Knights scoreless for nearly three minutes to start the game, the Illini jumped out to an 11-0 run, with that lead reaching 21-2 with 14:06 remaining in the first half. With Illinois ahead by a 38-17 margin with seven minutes left in the frame, the Orange and Blue used a 24-0 scoring stretch over the next six minutes to extend their lead to 62-17.
The Illini eventually went into the break with a 67-20 advantage, fueled by 12 3-pointers and a 36-9 rebounding edge. Illinois turned 10 offensive rebounds into 18 second-chance points while holding FDU to 1-for-17 from 3-point range.
The Illini opened the second half on a 13-3 run, and that edge surpassed the 60-point margin with 13:07 remaining in the half. The Orange and Blue reached the 100-point threshold with 9:13 left in the contest, while their advantage reached a record-setting 73 – before climbing to 75 – with less than two minutes to go.
No. 3 Illinois returns to State Farm Center on Thursday night to host Penn. Tipoff is slated for 7:30 p.m. CT on FS1, while limited tickets are available at fightingillini.com/tickets.
HIGHLIGHTS
PRESS CONFERENCE
POSTGAME NOTES
Team Notes
- Illinois improved to 108-14 (.885) all-time in season openers.
- The Illini have won 11 straight openers dating back to 2016, including a 10-0 mark in season-openers under head coach Brad Underwood.
- The Illini are 43-2 (.956) when starting the season at State Farm Center.
- Illinois has won 30 straight games when opening the year at State Farm Center dating back to a 99-73 victory over LaSalle on Dec. 1, 1993.
- Illinois shattered the program record for largest margin of victory (75).
- The previous record was 69 points in a 121-52 victory over Chicago State (12/18/1993).
- Marked the second-largest margin of victory in Big Ten history.
- Largest since Minnesota recorded an 80-point win over Alabama State on Dec. 23, 1996.
- The Illini broke the program record for 3-pointers made in a game (19).
- The previous record of 18 happened twice.
- Jan. 24, 2026 at Purdue and Dec. 18, 2021 vs. Saint Francis PA.
- Tied for the sixth-most 3-pointers made by a Big Ten team in conference history.
- The previous record of 18 happened twice.
- Illinois set the Big Ten and program record for 3-pointers attempted in a game with 51.
- The previous Big Ten record of 47 happened twice, both by Northwestern, vs. North Carolina A&T (12/13/2009) and vs. Illinois (12/30/2009).
- Broke the previous school record of 42 which happened twice: 10-for-42 at Nebraska on Jan. 30, 2025 and 16-for-42 vs. Eastern Illinois on Nov. 4, 2024.
- Illinois' 120 points scored are its most since scoring 122 vs. North Carolina A&T on Nov. 25, 2020.
- The Illini's 120 points are tied for the seventh-most in a game in program history.
- Illinois' bench outscored FDU's 63-20 and posted a 54-22 advantage in the paint.
- Illinois outrebounded FDU 65-21, including a 36-9 advantage at halftime.
- Illinois dominated on the offensive glass by a 22-3 margin.
- Illinois' 22 offensive boards are tied for their fourth-most in a game since at least 2004-05.
- The Illini's +44 rebounding margin was the largest of the Brad Underwood era, and the most since at least 2004-05.
- Illinois' 65 rebounds are the most in a regular-season game by a Big Ten team since at least 2004-05.
- Illinois dominated on the offensive glass by a 22-3 margin.
- The Illini turned 22 offensive rebounds into 31 second-chance points.
- Illinois held FDU to three offensive boards and five second-chance points.
- The Illini assisted on 30 of their 46 made field goals.
- All 13 Illini players scored at least two points.
- 12 players made at least one field goal.
- The Illini started the game on an 11-0 run, holding FDU scoreless for the first 3:10 of play.
- Illinois began the night 4-for-6 from the field.
- Illinois went on a 24-0 run from 6:45 to 1:39 remaining in the first half.
- The Illini went 9-for-13 from the field during that five-minute stretch.
- Illinois' first starting lineup of the season was Ethan Brown, Quentin Coleman, Jake Davis, Tomislav Ivisic, and Andrej Stojakovic.
Player Notes
- Stefan Vaaks poured in 20 points on an efficient 7-for-9 shooting from the field, including 5-for-7 from 3-point range, with four assists and three rebounds.
- Scored in double figures in his Illini debut, the 30th game of his career with 10+ points
- Ranked fourth in the Big East with 29 double-digit scoring games last season, first in the league among freshmen.
- Knocked down five 3-pointers, his 19th career game with at least three triples.
- Led the Big East with 18 such games as a freshman last season.
- Scored in double figures in his Illini debut, the 30th game of his career with 10+ points
- Andrej Stojakovic also led the team in scoring with 20 points on an efficient 9-for-11 shooting, grabbed seven rebounds, dished out four assists and had a block.
- Scored 20+ points for the ninth time in his Illinois career, the most among active Illini.
- Quentin Coleman tallied 13 points, a team-high 10 rebounds, six assists (zero turnovers), and a team-most three steals.
- Earned first-career start in collegiate debut.
- Ethan Brown added 12 points, secured nine rebounds, dished out a team-high seven assists (zero turnovers), and recorded two steals.
- Earned first-career start in collegiate debut.
- Zavier Zens scored 12 points, brought in three rebounds, and had two assists in his collegiate debut.
- Tomislav Ivisic scored 10 points, grabbed four rebounds, blocked two shots, and made two 3-pointers.
- Knocked down multiple 3-pointers for the 30th time in 67 career games played
- His 29 games with multiple triples are the most in the nation among players 7-0 or taller over the last two seasons.
- Knocked down multiple 3-pointers for the 30th time in 67 career games played
- Lucas Morillo made his collegiate debut tonight with nine points, eight boards, and an assist.
- Landon Davis scored six points, knocking down both of his 3-pointers, grabbed four rebounds, and an assist in his collegiate debut.
- Hit the Illini's 19th 3-pointer of the night, breaking the program's single-game record.
- Blake Fagbemi finished with eight points, three rebounds, and an assist.
- Set new career-highs in points (8), field goals (3), and 3-pointers (2).
- Tied his career-high with three rebounds.
