CHICAGO — #8 Illinois fell to #11 Alabama, 90-86, on Wednesday night inside the United Center.
Andrej Stojakovic paced the Fighting Illini with 26 points on 11-16 shooting, including a pair of threes, while David Mirkovic added ten points and ten rebounds for his fourth double-double this season.
The Fighting Illini jumped out to a quick lead, 19-10, with treys from Mirkovic, Zvonimir Ivisic and Stojakovic. Alabama closed the gap and Illinois saw a three-minute drought from the field near the end of the first half, until Mihailo Petrovic, Keaton Wagler and Ben Humrichous drained another trio of threes to put the Illini ahead going into the break, 42-41.
Alabama came out strong to begin the second half, outscoring Illinois 11-4 in the initial five minutes of play. The Crimson Tide were fueled by 19 second-half points from Labaron Philon Jr.
Behind by six with eight minutes remaining, the Illini battled within a possession, led by seven points from Kylan Boswell down the stretch. The rally was not enough for Illinois, as Alabama secured six of its last seven free throws to take the victory.
#8 Illinois returns to State Farm Center on Saturday, Nov. 22, to face Long Island. Tip off is slated for 1 p.m. CT on B1G+.
HIGHLIGHTS
POSTGAME NOTES
Player Notes
- Andrej Stojakovic paced the Illini scoring attack with a season-high 26 points on 11-for-16 shooting going 2-for-3 from deep.
- Posted double-digit points with a 3-pointer at the 4:59 mark in the first half.
- Started a perfect 4-for-4 from the field.
- Kylan Boswell poured in 22 points with a team-high seven assists and grabbed four rebounds.
- Dished out a season-high seven assists.
- Recorded his third game of the season with 20+ points and is now tied with Tomislav Ivisic as the team's active leader with six for his career at Illinois.
- Has reached double-figures scoring in 13 consecutive games dating back to last season, and in a team-leading 29 games in his career dating back to last season.
- David Mirkovic scored 10 points, snared a team-high 10 rebounds, and added four assists.
- Reached double-figures scoring for the fifth consecutive game, at the 7:08 mark in the first half.
- Recorded fourth double-double of the season.
- Entered the game ranked third nationally with three double-doubles.
- Ben Humrichous tallied 11 points and brought in six rebounds.
- Has scored 10+ points in back-to-back games and has 14 games in double-figures scoring as an Illini.
- Recorded his fifth straight game with at least five rebounds, his longest streak as an Illini.
- Pulled down three offensive boards, tied for his most as an Illini
- Tomislav Ivisic logged 14 minutes and three points in his first game action since the season opener after missing the Illini's previous three games.
- Mihailo Petrovic scored three points, dished out five assists, and added a rebound.
- Made his collegiate debut, checking in at the 3:54 mark in the first half, after missing Illinois' first four games of the season.
Team Notes
- Starters: Kylan Boswell, Zvonimir Ivisic, David Mirkovic, Andrej Stojakovic, Keaton Wagler.
- Tonight's attendance of 17,775 is the largest Illinois-hosted, regular-season game at the United Center since Dec. 29, 2012, when the Illini defeated Auburn, 81-79, in front of 18,136 fans.
- Illinois is now 327-108 (.752) all-time in 435 games when ranked in the AP top 10, including a 75-25 mark in neutral-site games.
- Illinois moves to 38-19 all-time at the United Center.
- The loss snapped the Illini's four-game win streak.
- Illinois moves to 1-5 all-time vs. Alabama, including losses in neutral-site, ranked-ranked matchups the last two seasons.
- The Illini outrebounded Alabama 40-38 with a 21-16 advantage in the first half.
- Illinois has outrebounded all five opponents this season and entered the game ranked second in the nation with an average rebounding margin of +21.8.
- Illinois outscored the Crimson Tide in the paint 40-30.
- Illinois recorded a season-most seven steals.
