Illinois Back On Track With 81-61 Win Over Iowa

BY UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – A balanced scoring night saw Illinois return to the win column with an 81-61 home victory over Iowa at State Farm Center on Tuesday night.

The Orange and Blue led by as many as 24, while four Fighting Illini scorers finished in double figures in the 20-point home triumph.

Tomislav Ivisic paced the Illini with 22 points on 9-for-13 shooting after amassing 15 points in the first half alone. Scoring in double figures for the 17th time this season, Ivisic also recorded five assists, four rebounds, and a block.

Tre White logged 14 points while going 5-for-8 from the field and 2-for-4 from beyond the arc. He also collected two rebounds and a steal.

Will Riley filled the stat sheet with 15 points, seven rebounds, two assists, and two steals.

Kylan Boswell finished the night with 15 points, seven assists, four rebounds, and a steal.

Kasparas Jakucionis totaled nine points, seven rebounds, three assists, and a block.

Forcing four turnovers within the first five minutes of play, the Illini opened up an early 12-4 edge after making five of their first eight shots from the field. Ivisic ultimately accounted for 11 of Illinois' first 17 points, which helped the Orange and Blue establish a double-digit advantage for the first time.

With the hosts in front by 13, the Hawkeyes cut into their deficit via an 11-0 run across the next four minutes. Ivisic scored the Illini's next four points, extending the team's edge back up to five. After Iowa trimmed Illinois' lead down to two, Jakucionis knocked down a 3-pointer to spark a 7-2 Illini run, pushing the home side's advantage to 35-28 with two minutes remaining in the half.

The Orange and Blue went into the break with a seven-point edge, 37-30, behind 15 first-half points from Ivisic.

A 4-0 Illini run to begin the final frame swung the momentum into Illinois' favor, with the home side claiming a 13-point edge, 46-33, within the first two-and-a-half minutes of the half. With that lead down to 11 just under two minutes later, the Orange and Blue pieced together a 7-0 run to add onto its advantage and force an Iowa timeout with the hosts in front, 56-38, with 14:24 to play.

About three minutes later, the hosts' lead reached the 20-point mark for the first time, soon climbing up to 24 with just over eight minutes to go in the game. 

A 7-3 scoring stretch from the visitors reduced the Hawkeyes' deficit to 19, but Ben Humrichous' second 3-pointer of the night re-established the Illini's 20-point advantage with under five minutes remaining.

Seeing out the victory, the Illini improved to 10-8 in conference play heading into the final two games of the regular season.

Illinois will play its final Big Ten road game of the season on Sunday, when the Illini head north to the Wolverine State to take on No. 15 Michigan at 2:45 p.m. CT on CBS.