CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Keaton Wagler tallied 34 points and Tomislav Ivisic posted a double-double effort with 19 points and 11 rebounds, but it was not enough to lift the shorthanded Illinois over Wisconsin as the #8 Illini fell in overtime for the second time in three days.
Already without starting guard Kylan Boswell for the seventh straight game, and with starting wing Andrej Stojakovic unable to go for the first time since missing the season opener, the Illini's starters and sixth-man Zvonimir Ivisic combined to play all but 57 seconds of the overtime contest.
David Mirkovic tallied 12 points, six rebounds, and a block, while Jake Davis added 11 points, three assists, and a block.
Ben Humrichous chipped in 10 points and seven boards after playing 43 minutes to fill in for the absence of Andrej Stojakovic. Zvonimir Ivisic blocked three shots and grabbed nine rebounds, three on the offensive glass.
Illinois (20-5 ,11-3 B1G) led by as many as 12 points in the second half, 71-59, with eight minutes to play. Wisconsin (17-7, 9-4 B1G) stormed back to take an 81-80 lead with 55 seconds to play before Wagler hit a free-throw at the 33-second mark to send the game to overtime.
In the extra period, the Badgers opened on an 8-0 run. Illiniois fought back with a 6-0 stretch, including a Wagler 3-pointer, to pull within 89-87 with 44 seconds to play. A Humrichous triple after a pair of Wisconsin free-throws kept the Illini within striking distance. With the Orange and Blue trailing by two off a missed Wisconsin free-throw, Wagler's running 3-point attempt came up just short as time expired.
Illinois closes out a two-game homestand Sunday against Indiana. Tipoff between the Fighting Illini and the Hoosiers is set for 12 p.m. CT on CBS.
HIGHLIGHTS
PRESS CONFERENCE
POSTGAME NOTES
Player Notes
- Keaton Wagler totaled 34 points, seven assists, and one rebound.
- Recorded 30+ points for the second time this season/in his career.
- His 34-point effort is tied for the third-most by a freshman in program history.
- Scored 20+ points for the eighth time of the season.
- Tied Kylan Boswell for most career games with 20+ points among active Illini, and is now tied with Cory Bradford (1998-99) for second-most by an Illinois freshman behind only Kasparas Jakucionis' 10 last season.
- Tallied his 22nd double-digit scoring effort of the season.
- Now has 10+ points in 17 consecutive outings, averaging 20.8 ppg during that span.
- Has scored in double figures in all 14 Big Ten appearances (22.0 ppg)
- Dished out 5+ assists for the 10th time this season and the sixth time in his last eight games.
- Moved up the charts in the Illinois freshman records, now third in total points scored (462) and eighth in total assists (108).
- David Mirkovic scored 12 points, grabbed six rebounds and added an assist
- Eighth consecutive game with 10+ points, 19th of the season.
- Made at least three 3-pointers for the sixth time.
- Has multiple treys in seven of the last nine outings.
- Tomislav Ivisic tallied 19 points with a team-high 11 rebounds and dished out three assists.
- Secured his second double-double of the season and the 13th of his career.
- Reached double-figures scoring in the game's first 10 minutes and finished with 19 points.
- 12th game of the season with 10+ points (second straight), and his 34th as an Illini.
- Knocked down three 3-pointers, his 12th game of the season with multiple treys
- 91 3-pointers, most in the NCAA among 7-footers over the last two seasons.
- Finished the first half with 17 points, his highest scoring half this season.
- Most points in a half since 18 against Chicago State in December 2024.
- Jake Davis finished with 11 points, three assists, two rebounds, and a block.
- Eighth game of the season with multiple 3-pointers, fifth in the last seven games in the starting lineup.
- Posted his sixth 10+ point game of the season.
- Logged his fifth block of the season.
- Ben Humrichous added 10 points, secured seven rebounds and had an assist.
- Made his second start of the season, the first since Jan. 14 at Northwestern.
- Scored 10+ points for the sixth time this season and for the third time in the last five games.
- Secured multiple offensive rebounds for the seventh time this season.
- Has 2+ o boards in three of the last five games.
- Hit multiple threes for the seventh time in the last eight games.
- Zvonimir Ivisic logged four points, nine rebounds, and three blocks.
- Made 3+ blocks for the 10th time.
- 14th straight game with at least one block, averaging 2.4 over that stretch.
- 17th multi-block game of the season, and the 12th in his last 14 outings.
- Grabbed multiple offensive rebounds for the fourth straight game.
- Has 2+ o boards in nine games overall this season.
Team Notes
- Starters: Jake Davis, Ben Humrichous, Tomislav Ivisic, David Mirkovic, and Keaton Wagler.
- Illini's seventh different starting lineup of the season.
- Seventh game without Kylan Boswell (broken right hand).
- Andrej Stojakovic did not play for the first time since missing the season opener vs. Jackson State on Nov. 3.
- Starting 5 and sixth-man Zvonimir Ivisic combined to play all but 57 seconds in the game.
- Tuesday's crowd was the eighth home sellout (15,544) of the season at State Farm Center. The Illini are averaging 14,786 fans per game, 95% capacity.
- Illinois went to overtime for the second consecutive game.
- Illinois entered the game ranked first in the Big Ten with 11.2 3-pointers per game and knocked down 15 triples vs. Wisconsin.
- Illini have made 10+ 3-pointers in a Big Ten-leading 19 games this season with a 15-4 record.
- Illinois knocked down 15+ 3-pointers for the sixth time this season and for the fourth time during Big Ten play.
- Illinois outrebounded Wisconsin, 38-35.
- Illinois has outrebounded 21 of 25 opponents this season with an 18-3 record in those contests.
