Illinois Keeps Rolling: Illini Extend Win Streak with Balanced Attack and Second-Half Surge
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - The streak is alive and well in Champaign. Illinois returned to State Farm Center after an 11-day road stretch and made themselves right at home, notching their seventh straight win with a 77-67 victory over Minnesota. That’s now nine in a row against the Gophers, and this one showcased exactly why Brad Underwood’s squad is climbing the national ranks.
“It was just clicking today,” Underwood said postgame. “It was the right matchups.”
And he's not wrong. Illinois found the right buttons to push - especially in the second half - after a back-and-forth first 20 minutes that featured seven lead changes and a Gophers team that refused to go quietly.
The difference-maker early? Zvonimir Ivisic.
The 7-footer came off the bench and immediately went to work, exploiting Minnesota’s interior defense with a versatile first-half performance: 13 points, six boards, two blocks, and a pair of steals. He finished just shy of a double-double, ending the night with 18 points and nine rebounds.
His presence changed the tone of the game, giving Illinois a much-needed interior anchor when things were still very much in flux.
Minnesota didn’t make it easy. Illinois did a solid job containing Cade Tyson - one of the nation’s top scorers - in the first half, holding him to just four points.
But while Tyson was quiet early, junior forward Jaylen Crocker-Johnson stepped up in a big way. He lit up the first half with five threes and 20 points, keeping the Gophers in it and forcing Illinois to make adjustments.
Those adjustments came after the break - and they came fast.
The Illini, who had struggled from deep in the first half (just 5-of-21 from three), flipped the script in the second. They shot a blistering 57% from beyond the arc after halftime, hitting 8-of-14 from deep and finally looking like the KenPom No. 3-ranked offense they’ve been all season.
A big part of that second-half surge came from a pair of key contributors: two-time Big Ten Freshman of the Week David Mirkovic and veteran forward Tomislav Ivisic. The duo combined for 22 points - all in the second half - and helped stretch the floor while keeping Minnesota’s defense off balance.
And then there’s Keaton Wagler. The freshman phenom - already a three-time Big Ten Freshman of the Week - continued to play well beyond his years.
He filled the stat sheet with 17 points, five assists, four rebounds, and a steal. He’s quickly becoming one of the most reliable pieces in Underwood’s rotation, providing scoring and poise in key moments.
Illinois also got a milestone moment from guard Andrej Stojakovic, who reached 1,000 career points - a testament to his consistency and impact over the course of his collegiate career.
Defensively, Illinois leaned on the same principles that have defined their season: rebounding, second-chance opportunities, and discipline. Minnesota tried to keep Illinois off balance by switching between zone and man-to-man looks in the first half, and it worked to a degree.
But the Illini stuck to their identity. They dominated the glass 42-31 and once again avoided being out-rebounded - something that’s only happened once all season.
This win wasn’t just about shooting percentages or individual performances - it was about resilience. Illinois didn’t panic when the threes weren’t falling early. They trusted their system, leaned on their depth, and let the game come to them.
Now sitting on a seven-game win streak, Illinois will look to keep the momentum going when they host Maryland on Jan. 21.
But the real test looms just a few days later: a road trip to face the No. 5-ranked Purdue Boilermakers at Mackey Arena on Jan. 24.
If the Illini keep playing like this - with balance, depth, and confidence - they’ll be more than ready.