Keaton Wagler Drops 46 in Historic Performance as Illinois Stuns Purdue
Keaton Wagler didn’t just have a good day - he had the kind of day that gets etched into college basketball lore.
The Illinois freshman guard erupted for a career-high 46 points, powering the 11th-ranked Illini to an 88-82 upset win over No. 4 Purdue in West Lafayette on Saturday. It wasn’t just a breakout performance - it was a record-breaking one.
Wagler was electric from the opening tip, scoring the game’s first 14 points himself. By halftime, he had already poured in 24 of Illinois’ 39 points.
And he didn’t slow down. By the final buzzer, he had connected on 13-of-17 shots from the field, drained 9-of-11 from three-point range, and knocked down 11-of-13 free throws.
It was a shooting display that left Mackey Arena stunned and the college basketball world buzzing.
According to ESPN, Wagler’s 46-point outburst set a new high for the most points ever scored in a road win over a top-10 opponent in AP Poll history. It also marked the most points ever scored by a visiting player at Purdue’s Mackey Arena - a building known for its tough crowds and tougher defenses.
And here’s the kicker: Illinois wasn’t even at full strength.
The Illini were missing reserve center Jason Jakstys due to injury, and they’re already without guard Kyle Boswell - their second-leading scorer at 14.3 points per game - who’s sidelined for at least a month with a fractured bone in his right hand. But none of that mattered with Wagler in takeover mode.
Illinois as a team was dialed in from deep, hitting 18-of-38 from beyond the arc. That perimeter firepower proved to be the difference, especially with Purdue managing just 7-of-19 from three. The Boilermakers, now 17-3 overall and 7-2 in Big Ten play, couldn’t keep pace with the Illini’s hot shooting.
Wagler’s previous career high? That would be 23 points, set against Ohio State back on Dec.
- He’d also hit 22 points three times this season - against Northwestern, Missouri, and FGCU.
But this was a different level. This was a star-making performance on one of college basketball’s biggest stages.
With the win, Illinois moves to 17-3 overall and 8-1 in the Big Ten, right in the thick of the conference title race. And with Wagler playing like this, the ceiling just got a whole lot higher.
This wasn’t just a big win. It was a statement - and Keaton Wagler delivered it loud and clear.