Illinois Defeats Wisconsin in Thrilling Home Opener

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Illinois defeated No. 20 Wisconsin 86-80 on Tuesday in a dramatic home opener at the State Farm Center, showcasing resilience in a bounce-back victory.

The Illini (7-2, 1-1 Big Ten) capitalized on a strong second half, overcoming a brief deficit and maintaining their lead through crucial late-game moments. This win extends Wisconsin’s (8-3, 0-2 Big Ten) losing streak against Illinois to nine games since January 2020.

“Typical Big Ten basketball game,” said Illinois Head Coach Brad Underwood after the game. “It was about what I thought it would be.” Illinois struggled early with a prolonged scoring drought and turnovers, but managed to enter halftime with a 42-38 lead.

Wisconsin briefly took a 47-46 lead when Nolan Winter scored with an and-one play, but Illinois answered with a commanding 13-2 run, energizing the home crowd. Despite Wisconsin being in the bonus for much of the second half, Illinois held on to their lead.

Underwood noted the importance of offensive rebounding, stating, “The whole key to the game was the first half offensive rebounding. We didn’t shoot it well; we were 6-of-20, but our offensive rebound total was one shy of their total rebounds in the first half.” Illinois recorded 15 offensive rebounds and 16 second-chance points.

Tre White‘s standout performance was critical to Illinois’s success. After struggling early in the season, White scored a season-high 23 points, including 14 in the first half. Underwood had emphasized the need for White’s contribution following a limited role in a previous game.

“Tonight, he stepped up and met the challenge,” Underwood said. “It’s no coincidence because he had two of the best practices he’s had all year leading up to this.” White contributed key plays late in the game, including a putback dunk that provided a necessary cushion.

“For me, it’s just all about staying ready until my name is called,” White commented. “We have such a valuable team, such a deep team, so just staying ready and making winning plays when my name is called is crucial.”

Illinois’s defense played a significant role, particularly in limiting Wisconsin’s leading scorers. Kylan Boswell’s defensive efforts on John Tonje, who averages 21.5 points per game and scored just 14 on Tuesday, stood out to Underwood.

Underwood remarked, “Defensively [Kylan] has just been sensational. There’s a mentality that’s different.” With this victory, Illinois improved to 6-0 at home this season, solidifying their dominance in the State Farm Center.