CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Fighting Illini forward David Mirkovic has jumped out to an impressive start to his collegiate career. But the true freshman from Montenegro took his game to another level on Friday night with a 27-point, 21-rebound performance to lead No. 14 Illinois (4-0) to an 84-65 win over Colgate (1-3) in front of a sold-out State Farm crowd.
Mirkovic etched his name among some Illini greats in the win. His monster game marked the first 20+-point, 20+-rebound game by an Illini in almost 53 years – since Nick Weatherspoon went for 37 points and 22 rebounds vs. DePauw on Dec. 2, 1972. He also broke Illinois' single-game freshman rebounding record of 17 boards set twice by Kofi Cockburn during the 2019-20 season.
Mirkovic entered the game as one of two freshmen this season, along with Duke's Cameron Boozer, to average better than 15.0 points and 9.0 rebounds per contest. With his final stat line vs. the Raiders, he became the just the fourth freshman nationally in the last 21 years to record at least 27 points and 21 rebounds in a game, joining Marvin Bagley III for Duke (32 points and 21 rebounds on Dec. 30, 2017 vs. Florida State), Michael Beasley twice for Kansas State (32 points and 24 rebounds vs. Sacramento State on Nov. 9, 2007, 28 points and 22 rebounds vs. Western Illinois on Nov. 17, 2007), and Kevin Durant for Texas (37 points and 23 rebounds at Texas Tech on Jan. 31, 2007).
Behind Mirkovic, fellow freshman, guard Keaton Wagler, continued his sensational start to the season with 19 points and six rebounds. Nine of Wagler's 19 came on 11 attempts from the free-throw line.
Kylan Boswell (11 points) and Ben Humrichous (10 points) also posted double-digit scoring games for the Illini who were outshot by Colgate, 37.7% to 41.9%, but posted a +20 rebounding margin (49-29).
The Illini jumped out to a 19-11 lead early in the contest before a Colgate run knotted the game, 28-28, at the 4-minute mark of the first half. Illinois responded, however, with a 13-2 run to close out the half with a 41-30 lead.
Out of the break, the Illini continued to steadily pull away from the Raiders and built a 19-point edge, 57-38, with just under 15 minutes left to play. A Mirkovic triple at the 4:35 mark gave Illinois its biggest lead of the night at 24 points, 78-54, before the Orange and Blue closed out the 19-point victory.
Next up, the Illini head to Chicago for a top-10 matchup vs. No. 8 Alabama at United Center next Wednesday. Tickets are on sale now for the contest which is slated to tip off at 8 p.m. CT on FS1.
HIGHLIGHTS
PRESS CONFERENCE
POSTGAME NOTES
Player Notes
- David Mirkovic tailed 27 points, 21 rebounds, and three assists.
- His 21 rebounds ties him for seventh most single-game rebounds in Illinois history.
- Mirkovic breaks the Illinois freshman single-game rebounding record of 17 boards at the 10:04 mark of the second half. Kofi Cockburn set the mark twice as a freshman in 2019-20.
- Recorded the first 20+-point, 20+-rebound game by an Illini since Nick Weatherspoon (37 points and 22 rebounds) vs. DePauw, 12/2/1972.
- His eight offensive rebounds are the most by an Illini since Morez Johnson Jr. against Maryland Eastern Shore (11/13/2024).
- Recorded his third double-double of the season.
- First Illini freshman since 2004-05 to go for 27+ points and 20+ rebounds.
- Entered Friday's game as one of two freshmen in the nation – along with Duke's Cameron Boozer - averaging better than 15.0 points and 9.0 rebounds per game.
- Scored his first 20-point game of the season/of his career.
- Has scored in double figures in all four games this season/in his career.
- Eclipsed the 10-rebound mark in the first half, the third time in four games to open his career that he has posted double-digit boards.
- Entered the game ranked fourth in the Big Ten at 9.7 rebounds per game.
- Keaton Wagler scored 19 points, grabbed six rebounds, and added two assists.
- Has scored in double figures in all four games this season/in his career.
- Began the night scoring the Illini's first five points.
- Andrej Stojakovic scored nine points, grabbed four boards and dished out a couple assists.
- Started his first game as an Illini after missing the opener then coming off the bench in Games 2 and 3, including his 23-point effort in the Illini's win vs. #11 Texas Tech.
- Ben Humrichous tailed 10 points, five rebounds, and an assist.
- His second time this season reaching double figures and multiple threes.
- Kylan Boswell added 11 points along with four rebounds and a team-high four assists.
- Recorded his 12th consecutive game in double-figures scoring dating back to last season.
- Leads the team with 28 career games of 10+ points as an Illini.
- Has scored in double figures in all four games this season.
- Boswell has led the Illini in assists every game this season.
Team Notes
- Starters: Kylan Boswell, Zvonimir Ivisic, David Mirkovic, Andrej Stojakovic, Keaton Wagler.
- Friday's attendance of 15,544 marked the third consecutive sellout crowd at State Farm Center.
- Through four home games, the Illini are averaging 15,286 fans per game (98.3% capacity).
- Last season, the Illini played in front of 12 sellout crowds at State Farm Center and ranked 11th nationally with an average attendance of 15,091.
- First 4-0 start for the Illini since the 2022-23 season and only third time under head coach Brad Underwood.
- Illinois has won six straight games at State Farm Center, overall, including five consecutive vs. nonconference opponents, and 33 straight against unranked nonconference foes since December 2019.
- Illinois outrebounded Colgate, 49-29, with a 19-6 edge on the offensive glass.
- In the first half they outrebounded them 28-13 with a 13-1 advantage on the offensive boards.
- The Illini nearly quadrupled the Raiders in second chance points, 22-6.
- Illinois had five blocks compared to Colgate's one.
- After Colgate tied the game, 28-28, at 4-minute mark in the first half, the Illini responded with a 13-2 run to close the period and took a 41-30 lead into the break.
