LINCOLN, Neb. – No. 18 Illinois dropped an overtime battle at Nebraska, 80-74, on Thursday night at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
Kasparas Jakucionis posted his second-consecutive double-double with a team-high 18 points and a career-most 13 rebounds, while he connected on three 3-pointers, dished out four assists, and made one steal.
Will Riley scored 13 of his 16 points in the second half, including a six-minute stretch during which he accounted for 13 straight points for the Illini. Tallying four 3-pointers, he also secured four rebounds, including two on the offensive glass, and a steal.
Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn made the game-tying 3-pointer to force overtime before finishing with 15 points and two makes from beyond the arc. He also totaled four rebounds.
Tre White grabbed 13 rebounds, his third game this season with double-digit boards, and he poured in eight points and logged two blocks.
Morez Johnson Jr. amassed five points, five rebounds, a team-most three blocks, and a steal. Kylan Boswell closed the night with eight points, four rebounds, an assist, and a steal.
No. 18 Illinois returns to sold-out State Farm Center on Sunday to host Ohio State at 12 p.m. CT, with the game set to air nationally on CBS.
HIGHLIGHTS
PRESS CONFERENCE
POSTGAME NOTES
Player Notes:
- Kasparas Jakucionis posted a double-double effort with 18 points and a game-high 13 rebounds, while adding four assists.
- Secured his second-straight double-double and his fourth such performance overall this season.
- Scored in double-figures for the third consecutive game and his team-leading 16th time this season.
- Pulled down a career-high 13 rebounds.
- Knocked down three 3-pointers, his 10th game of the season with multiple triples.
- Will Riley tallied 16 points and four rebounds.
- Posted his 10th game of the season in double-figures scoring, and his second straight in a Big Ten road game after scoring a team-leading 19 at Michigan State on Jan. 19.
- Knocked down four 3-pointers, his most in a Big Ten game, to record his eighth game of the season with multiple makes from distance.
- Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn poured in 15 points, including the 3-pointer to force overtime, and added four rebounds.
- Scored in double-figures for the seventh time this season, including six times in his last 10 games
- Tied his career-high with four rebounds for the third-consecutive game.
- Made two 3-pointers, his sixth outing with multiple makes from deep. Has hit multiple 3s in two of the last three games and in three of the last six.
- Tre White tied for game-high with 13 rebounds and added eight points.
- Posted his third game of the season with 10+ rebounds.
- Recorded a season-high rebounding total and finished one short of his career-high.
Team Notes:
- Starting lineup: Kylan Boswell, Ben Humrichous, Kasparas Jakucionis, Morez Johnson Jr., Tre White
- The loss snaps Illinois' win streak over Nebraska at nine games, and snaps a three-game win streak for the Illini at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
- Illinois falls to 0-2 in overtime games this season, both coming on the road in Big Ten play (at Northwestern, 12/6/24).
- Illinois outrebounded the Huskers, 58-42, winning the battle of the boards for the 18th time in 21 games.
- 58 total rebounds marked Illinois' second-most in a game this season (59 vs. UMES, 11/23/24).
- Pulled down 50+ rebounds for second-straight game and the seventh time this season, overall.
- The Illini grabbed 20 offensive rebounds, scoring 15 second-chance points.
- Illinois has recorded 20+ offensive boards in back-to-back games.
- Illinois tied a season-high with 42 3-point attempts vs. the Huskers.
- Opened the game shooting just 1-for-15 from 3-point range, but knocked down nine of the team's final 19 in regulation before missing all eight attempts in the overtime period.
- The Fighting Illini committed 17 turnovers, tied for the team's second-highest total in a game this season, and the most in a Big Ten contest.
