Illini Storm Back to Beat #18 Purdue

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Kasparas Jakucionis' step-back triple with 39 seconds to play broke a 79-79 tie, as the Illini (20-11, 12-8 B1G) stormed back from a 10-point second-half deficit to defeat No. 18 Purdue (21-10, 13-7) on Senior Night at sold-out State Farm Center. The clutch triple was part of a 13-1 run over the final 2 minutes in Illinois' 88-80 victory to close out the regular season.

All five Illini starters posted double-figures scoring, led by 22 points from Will Riley and 20 from Tre White. Jakucionis' triple gave him 10 in the game, while Kylan Boswell added 15, Tomislav Ivisic scored 14, and Ben Humrichous chipped in with seven points, including the three-pointer that sparked the Illini's closing run.

Riley shot 7-for-14 from the field, including a pair of 3-pointers and a 6-for-6 showing from the free-throw line. White tied a career-high mark with three 3-pointers (3-5), and shot 7-for-9 overall, including a hot start that saw him open the game by scoring seven of the Illini's first nine points.

After a back-and-forth period that saw the Illini trail 42-40 at halftime, the Orange and Blue fell behind, 63-53, with 11:30 left to play following a 3-pointer from Purdue's Braden Smith.

Riley's jumper on the next Illinois possession sparked a key 17-1 stretch for the Illini. The run was capped by back-to-back 3-pointers from Humrichous and White, and gave the Illini a 70-66 edge with 6:44 to play. It was the Illini's first lead since 17-15 in the first half.

Purdue responded by scoring 13 of the game's next 18 points to stake to a 79-75 lead, but Trey Kaufman-Renn's bucket at the 2:18 mark – which gave him a game-high 29 – was the final field goal scored by the Boilermakers before the Illini's game-winning flurry. 

Illinois now turns its attention to the postseason. The Illini are slated to open the Big Ten Championship next Thursday night at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.  

Highlights 

Press Conference

Postgame Notes

Player Notes

• Will Riley led the Illini scoring a team-high 22 points while also dishing out 4 assists.
  • Scored in double figures for the 19^th time this season and the third consecutive.
  • Fourth 20-point game of the season ties Dee Brown for ninth in the Illinois freshman record book.
• Tre White poured in 20 points shooting an impressive 7-9 from the field while also grabbing a team-high nine boards.
  • Reached double-figures scoring for the 13^th time this season and his fourth straight.
    • Tied a career high with three 3-pointers.
    • Third-straight game with 2+ 3PM's.
  • Pulled down 9+ rebounds for the 5^th time this season.
• Kylan Boswell scored 15 points while also collecting 5 assists and 4 rebounds.
  • Scored in double figures for the fourth consecutive game and 20th of the season.
• Tomislav Ivisic scored 14 points, grabbed six rebounds and three assists.
  • 18^th game this season scoring double figures.
• Kasparas Jakucionis scored 10 points and dished out a team-high seven assists.
  • Scored in double figures for his team-leading 22nd game of the season.
• Ben Humrichous added seven points off the bench, including two key second-half 3-pointers.
  • Knocked down at least one 3-pointer in 27 of 31 games this season.
  • Recorded his 17^th game (third straight) with multiple 3-pointers.

Team Notes

• Starters: Kylan Boswell, Tomislav Ivisic, Kasparas Jakucionis, Will Riley, and Tre White
  • Third straight game (3-0).
• The victory is the Illini's 20^th win of the regular season; Illinois joins Houston, Gonzaga, and San Diego State as the only programs in the nation to record 20-win regular seasons in each of the last six years.
• The win is Illinois' 82^nd at State Farm Center since 2019-20. The Illini are now tied with Purdue and Iowa for the most home wins in the Big Ten over the last six seasons.
• Illinois improves to 5-6 against top 25 opponents this season with wins and has won two straight after Sunday's win at then-No. 15 Michigan.
• Illinois closes the season 8-9 in Quad 1 games.
  • Illinois eight Quad 1 games wins are tied for ninth in the nation. 
  • The Illini's 17 Quad 1 matchups rank as the third-most nationally. 
  • Illinois' 25 combined Quad 1 and Quad 2 games are tied for the most in the nation. 
• Tonight's win is the Illini's 81st win in Big Ten play since 2019-20. The Illini are tied with Purdue for the most conference victories in the B1G over the last six seasons.
• Illinois is 19-1 this season when scoring 80+ points, including 12-0 in Big Ten play.
• Assisted 20 times on 28 field goals (10 assists on 14 FG at halftime).
  • Second-straight game with 20+ assists, sixth time this season.
• Fourth consecutive game committing fewer than 10 turnovers.
• The sell out of 15,544 fans was the Illini's 12th capacity crowd of the season (eighth consecutive).
  • Illinois averaged 15,091 fans per game for the season, 97.1% of capacity.