University of Illinois
0-0,0-0Big Ten
Cincinnati (Exh.)
0-0,0-0Big 12
| Team | 1 | 2 | F |
|---|---|---|---|
| Illinois | 54 | 51 | 105 |
| Cincinnati | 49 | 47 | 96 |
October 17, 2026 | Men's Basketball
CINCINNATI, Ohio – Six Fighting Illini scored in double figures, led by 24 from Andrej Stojakovic, as the Orange and Blue posted a 105-96 exhibition victory over host Cincinnati on Saturday at the Bearcats' Fifth Third Arena. The contest was the first of three exhibition games leading into the Illini's 2026-27 regular-season opener.
Despite missing preseason All-American David Mirkovic, the Illini were extremely efficient on the offensive end, posting 1.313 points per possession. All five starters reached double-figures scoring and sophomore transfer Stefan Vaaks tallied 19 points in 19 minutes off the bench.
Freshmen Ethan Brown (15 points) and Quentin Coleman (14), who earned starts in their unofficial collegiate debuts, were joined in double digits by veteran returners Tomislav Ivisic (13) and Jake Davis (10).
The Illini trailed for just 1 minute, 42 seconds in the contest, but Cincinnati remained within two possessions until the 6:04 mark of the second half when Coleman blew the game open with a personal 10-0 run. That stretch gave the Illini a 93-79 edge with just more than 4 minutes to play, and the Bearcats never pulled closer than seven points for the remainder of the game.
Coleman flirted with a triple-double, also leading the Illini with eight assists and a game-high seven rebounds.
The Illini shot 53% from the field, overall, and hit 42% (14-33) from 3-point range. The Orange and Blue also shot 79% (19-24) from the free-throw line.
Illinois will host its next two exhibition contests at State Farm Center. First, the Orange and Blue square off against Big 12 foe Baylor on Oct. 23, before returning to the court five days later for the final preseason test against UIC on Oct. 28. Both contests are set for 7 p.m. CT tipoffs and each will be streamed live via B1G+.
Illinois' regular season tips on Monday, Nov. 2 with a 7 p.m. CT matchup vs. FDU on Big Ten Network.
