Illinois Fighting Illini powers into Final Four with statement win over Iowa.
The Fighting Illini pulled away late to defeat Iowa 71–59 on Saturday night, securing the program’s first Final Four appearance in 21 years and sending a clear message about who they are as a team.
“This group is special,” head coach Brad Underwood said. “Our resilience was unbelievable.”
Illinois didn’t just win this game. It controlled it when it mattered most.
The victory sends Illinois to its sixth Final Four in program history and its first since 2005, when a star-studded team led by Luther Head, Deron Williams, and Dee Brown made a run all the way to the national championship game before falling to North Carolina, 75–70. That team came close to history. This one now has its own opportunity.
“I don’t want anybody to think this is it,” Andrej Stojakovic said. “We didn’t get to the Final Four just to get there. We’re coming to win two more games.”
For much of the night, the game felt like a fight. Iowa held a slight edge at halftime, and the score remained locked at 51–51 with just over seven minutes left. From that point on, Illinois flipped the switch.
The Illini closed the game on a 20–8 run, shutting down Iowa in the final minutes while executing with precision on offense. Iowa did not score in the last two minutes, a stretch that captured the defensive intensity Illinois brought after halftime.
The difference in the game showed up where it often matters most in March—inside. Illinois dominated the glass and controlled the paint from start to finish, outrebounding Iowa 38–21 and outscoring them 40–12 in the paint. That physical edge created second-chance opportunities and limited Iowa’s ability to attack the rim.
“We were dominant on the glass from the first minute,” Tomislav Ivisic said. “Rebounding kept us in the game.”
When Illinois needed a steady presence, it turned to its freshman standout. Keaton Wagler scored a game-high 25 points, including 14 in the second half, helping guide the Illini through the game’s most critical stretch.
“He’s one of the best players in America,” Underwood said. “He was awesome tonight.”
Andrej Stojakovic added 17 points, while Ivisic contributed 13, with most of his production coming after halftime. Together, they gave Illinois the balance it needed to close the game.
The turning point wasn’t just scoring—it was defense. After Iowa shot efficiently in the first half, Illinois tightened up and made every possession difficult. The Hawkeyes managed just six field goals in the second half and struggled to find space against Illinois’ size.
“Our lack of shooting caught up with us,” Iowa head coach Ben McCollum said. “We couldn’t space it.”
Illinois now heads to Indianapolis with momentum and belief, set to compete on college basketball’s biggest stage. For a program that has been waiting more than two decades to return to this moment, the opportunity is significant, but the focus inside the locker room remains unchanged.
“This is what kids dream of,” Wagler said. “But we’re not done yet.”
Illinois will face the winner of Duke and UConn next Saturday at Lucas Oil Stadium, home of the NFL’s Indianapolis Colts. Illinois’ previous Final Four trips came in 1949, 1951, 1952, 1989, and 2005.
