CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – No. 17 Illinois used a complete team effort to take down Northwestern, 83-74, at sold-out State Farm Center on Sunday afternoon.
Leading for nearly 38 minutes of play, the Fighting Illini snapped their two-game skid while winning their ninth-consecutive home game against the Wildcats.
Morez Johnson Jr. scored in double figures for the fifth time this season, tallying 15 points while also grabbing nine rebounds. Johnson also made three blocks, tying his second-best tally of the season.
Ben Humrichous buried four 3-pointers before finishing with 14 points. Corralling two of his four rebounds on the offensive glass, Humrichous also totaled a block and an assist.
The Illini's starting guards did a little bit of everything, both scoring in double figures while filling the stat sheet in rebounds and assists. Kasparas Jakucionis accumulated 11 points, 10 rebounds, seven assists, a block, and a steal for his third double-double of the campaign, while Kylan Boswell logged a team-high 16 points along with six rebounds, four assists, and a block.
Jake Davis added 11 points off the bench while connecting on a season-high three 3-pointers. Going 4-for-7 from the field and 3-for-6 from 3-point range, Davis posted double-digit points for the second time this season while also tacking on three rebounds.
Tre White recorded eight points, three rebounds, three assists, and a steal.
Illinois dominated on the glass, holding a 50-27 edge in total rebounds while collecting a season-most 21 offensive boards. Johnson had a game-high five offensive rebounds, while five Illini had multiple boards on the offensive end.
Both sides got off to a slow start offensively, combining for 10 points on 3-for-16 shooting through the opening six minutes of play. With the game knotted at 5-5, the Illini pieced together a 15-0 run over the next six-and-a-half minutes to take a double-digit lead for the first time.
White started that stretch with four points, and a block from Jakucionis led to a fast-break layup from Davis less than 30 seconds later. The final nine points of that run came via three consecutive 3-pointers from Humrichous to extend the Illini's lead to 20-5 with nine minutes remaining in the first half.
After the Wildcats ended their scoreless drought with a trey, the Orange and Blue used a 12-3 run to further add to their advantage. Five different Illini made a field goal during that four-minute span, during which Illinois' edge expanded to 32-11.
The hosts led by as many as 24 points in the first half, and the sides went into halftime with the Illini in front, 43-21. With a team-high 11 first-half points, Humrichous was the game's lone scorer in double figures through the opening 20 minutes, while Davis went 3-for-3 with two 3-pointers before the break. Illinois held a 27-13 advantage on the boards, while all eight Illini who played in the first half grabbed at least two rebounds.
Jakucionis and Johnson scored the Illini's first 11 points of the second half, with Johnson's dunk sending him into double digits on the day. A 7-2 Illini run early in the frame pushed the home side's edge up to 25, but Northwestern countered with a 9-2 stretch of its own to trim their deficit to 52-34 with 14:46 to go in the game.
The sides traded baskets over the next several minutes, though the Illini's advantage never dropped below 18. A 5-0 run from the hosts with five minutes left in the game lengthened their lead back up to 23, with Boswell reaching double figures during that stretch.
Despite a late offensive burst from Northwestern, the Orange and Blue led by as many as 25 in the contest en route to their ninth-straight home win over the Wildcats.
No. 17 Illinois hits the road to take on Nebraska away from home on Thursday night. The opening tipoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. CT on FS1 from the Cornhuskers' Pinnacle Bank Arena.
HIGHLIGHTS
PRESS CONFERENCE
POSTGAME NOTES
Player Notes:
- Kylan Boswell scored a game-high 17 points to go along with six rebounds and four assists.
- Scored in double figures for the fifth-straight game and for the 14th time this season.
- Went 9-for-10 from the free throw line.
- Has at least six rebounds in five-straight games and nine times overall this season.
- Morez Johnson Jr. scored 15 points and secured nine rebounds.
- Made his second consecutive start (first two starts of his career).
- Recorded his fourth game of the season in double-figures scoring.
- Fifth game this season with at least nine boards.
- Ben Humrichous scored 14 points and grabbed four rebounds.
- Scored in double figures for the seventh time this season.
- Poured in 11 points in the first half, a game-high mark.
- Went 4-for-9 from beyond the arc in the contest.
- Has knocked down multiple 3-pointers in nine games this season.
- Has hit at least four 3-pointers for the third time this campaign.
- Kasparas Jakucionis scored 11 points to go along with 10 rebounds and seven assists.
- Recorded his third double-double of the season.
- Second with points and rebounds.
- Scored in double figures for the 15th time this season.
- Second double-digit rebounding effort of the season.
- Posted seven assists for the second-straight contest.
- Has at least seven helpers in five games this season.
- Tallied at least five rebounds and five assists in the same game for the ninth time this season.
- Jake Davis came off the bench to score 11 points and added three rebounds.
- Went 3-for-6 from deep, setting a season high in makes.
- Knocked down multiple 3-pointers for the third time in his Illini career.
- Has hit at least one 3-pointer in seven of his last nine games after hitting two through the team's first 11 games.
- Tre White scored eight points, adding three rebounds and three assists.
Team Notes:
- Starting lineup: Kylan Boswell, Ben Humrichous, Kasparas Jakucionis, Morez Johnson Jr., Tre White
- Illinois earned its ninth-straight win over Northwestern at State Farm Center, a streak that dates back to Feb. 28, 2015.
- Illini head coach Brad Underwood improves to 11-5 against the Wildcats in his Illinois career.
- Illinois had five players score in double figures.
- Sixth time this season in which at least five players reached that mark in a single game.
- The Illini out-rebounded the Wildcats 50-27, including a 21-9 advantage on the offensive glass.
- The +23 rebounding margin marks the sixth time this season Illinois has posted a +20 rebounding margin or better.
- 12th time this season that the Illini have posted a +10 margin or better in rebounds.
- Sixth time during Big Ten play this campaign.
- The Illini have won the battle on the glass in 17 of 20 games this season.
- Illinois had more offensive rebounds (21) than Northwestern had defensive rebounds (18) in the contest.
- The Illini converted those o-boards into 13 second-chance points.
- Six Illini grabbed at least four boards.
- Illinois' 21 offensive rebounds marked a season-best output.
- The Illini's 21 offensive rebounds were the most by a Big Ten team in regulation in a conference game since Feb. 3, 2018, when Indiana also recorded 21 vs. Michigan State.
- The Illini's 21 offensive rebounds were the most by an Illinois team in a conference game since Jan. 8, 2014, when the Illini registered 23 at Wisconsin.
- The team's 21 offensive boards were the program's most in a game since Nov. 12, 2021, when the Illini grabbed 22 vs. Arkansas State.
- Illinois assisted 18 times on 29 field goals.
- It marked the fifth game this season in which the Illini assisted on greater than 60% of their made field goals, including both matchups vs. the Wildcats.
- Illinois is 4-1 in those contests.
- Sunday's crowd of 15,544 marked the Illini's seventh sellout at State Farm Center this season.
