In a showdown against KenPom’s fourth-ranked defense, Illinois showed they wanted it more, securing a gritty 65-55 victory over Houston in a sea of Cougar red.
Illinois head coach Brad Underwood praised his team's defensive effort, saying, “We set a strong precedent early, contesting shots and not giving up easy baskets.”
This win was more than just a ticket to the Elite Eight-it was sweet revenge for Illinois after their 2022 loss to Houston.
Entering as a No. 3 seed, Illinois carried momentum from dominant victories over Penn and VCU. This energy was crucial as they faced a tough Houston team on their home turf at the Toyota Center.
Freshman guard Keaton Wagler shrugged off the hostile environment, saying, “We’ve played in tough places before.”
The Illini had thrived as road warriors all season, winning eight Big Ten road games. Their resilience was on full display as they matched Houston's physicality and grit.
Illinois knew they had to shoot well against Houston’s aggressive defense. After a slow start, with just two points in the first four minutes, the Illini found their rhythm. The halftime score of 24-22 was the lowest in the tournament this season, highlighting the defensive battle.
Houston struggled offensively, shooting just 27.3% in the first half. But Illinois capitalized on their size advantage, attacking the hoop when the perimeter was shut down. Andrej Stojakovic made an immediate impact off the bench, driving aggressively to the rim.
Keaton Wagler, the Big Ten Freshman of the Year, came alive in the second half, igniting a 17-0 run that silenced the Houston crowd. Wagler’s signature step-back three-pointer was a highlight in a flurry of triples from Jake Davis, David Mirkovic, and Ben Humrichous.
“In the second half, it became a little bit of everybody,” Underwood noted.
Despite a late push from Houston, Illinois responded with key shots from Tomislav Ivisic and Wagler, along with another Stojakovic layup, to maintain their lead.
Wagler finished with a double-double, recording 13 points and 12 rebounds.
Defensively, Illinois had to contain Houston’s freshman All-American Kingston Flemings. Veteran guard Kylan Boswell took on the challenge, holding Flemings to just 11 points and disrupting Houston’s offensive flow.
Illinois dominated the boards, winning the rebound battle 43-34, and their defensive intensity was relentless. This effort proved they could compete with the best when it mattered most.
Looking ahead, Illinois is one step closer to their first Final Four since 2005. They’ll face No. 9 seed Iowa next, a team they defeated earlier this season. Fresh off an upset over Nebraska, Iowa will be eager for another surprise, but Illinois is ready for the challenge.