Final Four! Illinois Beats Iowa 71
University of Illinois Athletics • • general
Key Points:
- Illinois men's basketball team secured a 71-59 victory over Iowa to advance to the Final Four, marking their sixth appearance and first since 2005; they will face the winner of Duke vs. Connecticut on April 4 in Indianapolis.
- Illinois dominated the game with a +17 rebounding advantage and +28 points in the paint, overcoming a tied score late in the second half with a strong defensive effort that limited Iowa's scoring.
- Freshman Keaton Wagler led Illinois with 25 points and was named Most Outstanding Player of the NCAA Tournament South Region, while Andrej Stojakovic and Tomislav Ivisic contributed 17 and 13 points respectively.
- Head coach Brad Underwood praised the team's resilience and has now led Illinois to multiple 28+ win seasons and the program’s sixth Final Four, joining legendary coaches Lou Henson and Bruce Weber.
- Illinois improved its NCAA Tournament record to 50-36, ranking second in wins among teams yet to win a national championship, and continues a banner season with strong performances on both offense and defense.
