The hole was too deep, the comeback too late.
No. 3 Illinois dug itself out of a 22-point deficit in Lubbock, clawing all the way to within one point in the second half before falling to No.
16 Texas Tech, 84-78. The Illini opened the night with a messy first half that included 11 turnovers and a 23-15 rebounding deficit, then spent the rest of the game trying to erase the damage.
Illinois trailed 49-29 at the break, but the second half looked like a different team. The Illini tightened up defensively and held Texas Tech to just eight made field goals after halftime. Andrej Stojakovic and Quentin Coleman each scored 14 points in the second half to fuel the push, and Stojakovic’s layup with 5:34 left made it 65-64.
That was as close as Illinois would get. Texas Tech answered with back-to-back three-pointers around two Stojakovic free throws, stretching the margin to 68-64 and keeping the Illini at arm’s length the rest of the way.
Free throws were a brutal swing point. Illinois finished 8-of-19 at the line, including 1-of-5 over the final 6:01. It was the program’s worst night at the stripe since going 9-of-22 in a 66-58 win over Purdue on January 2, 2021.
Coleman delivered a huge performance in his first road game in college, finishing with a team-high 19 points, five rebounds and four assists while going 5-of-6 from three-point range. The freshman, one of five Illinois rookies who saw action, even vomited on the court and went to the locker room before coming back. He later buried a pair of threes in the final two minutes to keep the Illini alive.
With veterans David Mirkovic and Jake Davis out while recovering from injuries and surgeries, Illinois leaned heavily on its youth. One first-half lineup featured senior reserve center Zvonimir Ivisic and four freshmen.
Stojakovic finished with 18 points, Tomislav Ivisic added 14, and Stefan Vaaks scored 10 off the bench. Vaaks was just 2-of-10 from three, though he did provide scoring support in a game where Illinois needed every bucket it could get. The sophomore transfer from Providence hit 96 threes last season, but also had seven games when he connected on 20 percent or less from outside the arc.
Cruz Davis led Texas Tech with 20 points as the Red Raiders improved to 3-0 and extended their non-conference home win streak to 49. Texas Tech did it without All-American JT Toppin, who is still working his way back. The Red Raiders also owned the glass, outrebounding Illinois 43-32, and finished with a plus-15 edge at the free throw line.
The win gives Texas Tech revenge for its 81-77 loss in Champaign last November.
Illinois returns home to face Sam Houston State on Friday night at State Farm Center. The game is set for 6 p.m. CT on BTN Plus.
In Other News...
Greg Sankey Just Dragged Illinois Into The Big Ten SEC Fight
Greg Sankey took direct aim at the College Football Playoff debate this week, brushing aside the familiar argument that the SEC gets special treatment because of its media rights deal with ESPN. The SEC commissioner said the selection process is the same for every conference and pushed back on the idea that his league has been lobbying or steering the rankings behind the scenes.
His comments also pulled Illinois into the middle of the larger Big Ten-SEC argument, after he responded specifically to Bret Bielemas criticism. Sankey challenged Big Ten programs to prove themselves by scheduling non-conference games against SEC opponents, a pointed reminder that the debate over strength of schedule is not going away anytime soon. [Read more 🡒]
Illinois Just Got A Harsh Reminder About This Top 3 Team
Illinois got its first real jolt of the season against a Texas Tech team that looked every bit like a top-tier opponent, and the early damage was hard to ignore. The No. 3 Illini fell behind by 20 at halftime before making things more respectable after the break, but the comeback effort still ended in an 84-78 loss that exposed how thin the margin can be against elite competition.
Quentin Coleman gave Illinois a lift with 19 points and efficient shooting, but the rest of the offense never found a steady rhythm. Stefan Vaaks had a rough night on both ends, and the teams perimeter struggles were a major factor, with Illinois connecting on just 10 of 34 shots from beyond the arc. [Read more 🡒]
Illinois May Have Found Another Guard Fans Will Instantly Recognize
Illinois basketball came up short against Texas Tech, but Quentin Coleman gave the Illini another reason to pay attention to the backcourt. The freshman led the team with 19 points, added five rebounds, four assists and two steals, and his second-half surge stood out even in defeat. He was especially sharp after the break, finishing without a miss from the field or beyond the arc in that stretch.
For Illinois fans, the appeal goes beyond one strong outing. Colemans early-season production and the way he carries himself on the floor have invited comparisons to former Illini guard Keaton Wagler, another freshman who made his presence felt by doing a little of everything. It is still early, but Coleman is already showing the kind of all-around game that can make a newcomer feel familiar fast. [Read more 🡒]