#10 Illini Fall to #3 Michigan

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – No. 10 Illinois came up short in a top-10 matchup with No. 3 Michigan on Friday night, falling 84-70 in front of a sold-out crowd at State Farm Center.

Illinois (22-7, 13-5 B1G) entered the contest on a nine-game win streak vs. the Wolverines, but Michigan (27-2, 17-1 B1G) pulled away throughout the second half to secure their their first win at State Farm Center in seven seasons. 

Keaton Wagler led Illinois in scoring with 23 points, his ninth 20-point game of the season. He also recorded four rebounds, three assists and two steals.

David Mirkovic recorded his sixth double-double of the season with 12 points and 10 rebounds.

Kylan Boswell finished with 15 points, two assists and a steal to mark his fourth straight game scoring in double figures. This is his 22^nd time doing so this season, and the 38^th time of his career.

Illinois built an early lead, 16-11, just seven minutes into the contest. An Illini scoring drought over the next four minutes resulted in an 11-0 Michigan run that put the Orange and Blue in a six-point hole, 22-16, just more than halfway the period.  

Trailing 38-31 at halftime, Illinois battled to begin the second period, and trailed 53-48 following a Wagler 3-pointer with 13:09 to play. Michigan went on another run, however, scoring 22 of the game's next 28 points to push the Illini deficit to 21 points, 75-54, with 6:49 to play.   

The Wolverines outshot the Illini, 52.5% to 41.3%, including a blistering 60% (18-for-30) in the second half. Michigan also won the rebounding battle, 34-30, outboarding the Illini for just the fourth time this season. 

Next up, Illinois hosts Oregon in the Illini's final home game of the season on Tuesday. The Orange and Blue will celebrate Senior Night prior to the game. Tipoff is set for 8 p.m. CT on NBCSN and Peacock.

HIGHLIGHTS

PRESS CONFERENCE

POSTGAME NOTES

Player Notes

• Keaton Wagler poured in a team-high 23 points with four rebounds and two steals.
  • Team-leading 26th double-digit scoring effort of the season.
    • 10+ points in 21 consecutive outings, averaging 20.2 ppg during that span.
    • Team-most 12th game this season as the team's leading scorer
  • Ninth 20+-point game of the season, second-most all-time by an Illini freshman and one behind Kaspars Jakucionis' record set last year.
  • 10th game this season with multiple steals
• David Mirkovic recorded his sixth double-double of the season with 12 points and 10 rebounds.
  • Leads the team with six double-doubles on the season.
    • Tied for second-most all-time by an Illini freshman.  
    • First since 13 points and 10 rebounds in win vs. Penn State at The Palestra on Jan. 3.
  • Seventh game of the season with 10+ rebounds, first since pulling down 12 in a win at #18 Iowa on Jan. 11.  
• Kylan Boswell tallied 15 points, two assists and two steals.
  • Fourth straight game in double-figures scoring, 22^nd of the season and 38^th of his career (most among active Illini).
  • Fifth game with multiple steals, third in his last four games.

Team Notes

• This loss snaps a nine-game winning streak against Michigan, dating back to December 2019.
• Friday's crowd was the 10^th home sellout (15,544) of the season at State Farm Center. The Illini are averaging 14,881 fans per game, 96% capacity.
• Illinois falls to 5-5 vs AP top 25 opponents.
• The Fighting Illini are now 13-3 at the State Farm Center this season.
• The #10 Illini are 674-274 (.712) all-time when ranked inside the AP Top 25.
  • Under Brad Underwood, the Illini are now 111-50 (.694) when ranked.
• Illinois lost the rebounding battle for only the fourth time this season, grabbing 30 boards compared to Michigan's 34.
  • The Illini move to 1-3 being outrebounded.
• Illinois trailed 38-31 at halftime
  • The Illini's fewest points in a first half =this season.