Man, there is just something about a Saturday afternoon at the State Farm Center. If you were looking for the score of illinois basketball yesterday, you probably saw a game that was way closer than the final numbers suggest.
Illinois beat Minnesota 77-67.
But honestly? For about thirty minutes of that game, it felt like the Gophers might actually pull off the upset in Champaign. Brad Underwood had to burn a timeout just 72 seconds into the game because Jaylen Crocker-Johnson came out firing like he was in an empty gym. It was a wake-up call. The Illini eventually answered, but it wasn't pretty for a while.
Breaking Down the Score of Illinois Basketball Against Minnesota
The first half ended in a 34-34 deadlock. It was gritty. It was kind of ugly. Illinois couldn't buy a bucket from deep, and the Gophers were playing with that "nothing to lose" energy that drives ranked teams crazy. You've got to give credit to Minnesota's defense; they made every entry pass a chore.
Then the second half happened.
Illinois outscored Minnesota 43-33 in the final twenty minutes. The big difference-maker? The bench. Specifically, Zvonimir Ivisic. Big Z was absolute lightning off the wire, putting up 18 points and snagging 9 rebounds. He was basically a human eraser on the defensive end, too, tallying three blocks that completely changed the geometry of the paint.
👉 See also: Last Match Man City: Why Newcastle Couldn't Stop the Semenyo Surge
When you look at the final score of illinois basketball, you see a ten-point win. What you don't see is the stretch where Tomislav Ivisic and David Mirkovic finally woke up. Those two were held scoreless in the first half. Zero. Zilch. In the second half, they combined for 23 points. That’s the depth that makes this specific Illini roster so dangerous—if the starters are cold, the bench just comes in and drops a hammer.
The Wagler Factor and Perimeter Play
Keaton Wagler is becoming that guy. You know the one. Every time the shot clock is winding down and the crowd starts getting anxious, he seems to find a way to get a clean look. He finished with 17 points and a team-high 5 assists. He’s been on a tear lately, averaging over 18 points during this seven-game winning streak.
It wasn't just the scoring, though.
Wagler’s vision is what keeps this offense from becoming stagnant. He found Kylan Boswell for a couple of huge transition buckets that really broke Minnesota's spirit late in the game. Boswell finished with 9 points, and while he didn't shoot the lights out, his 4-of-5 performance from the free-throw line during "foul time" iced the game.
Minnesota tried to stay in it with 12 made three-pointers. Jaylen Crocker-Johnson was a problem all day, finishing with 22 points. But eventually, the sheer size of the Illinois frontcourt wore them down. Illinois won the rebounding battle 42-31. In the Big Ten, if you give up double-digit second-chance points, you’re usually toast.
✨ Don't miss: Cowboys Score: Why Dallas Just Can't Finish the Job When it Matters
Where This Leaves Illinois in the Big Ten Standings
This win moves Illinois to 15-3 overall and 6-1 in the conference. That’s elite territory. They are currently riding a seven-game heater, and the chemistry seems to be peaking at the exact right time.
The defense is the real story.
Holding a Big Ten opponent to 67 points is a win in any coach's book. Even though Minnesota shot well from deep early on, the Illini adjusted. They started switching the high ball screens more aggressively, which forced the Gophers into contested long-range heaves instead of the open looks they had in the first ten minutes.
If you’re tracking the score of illinois basketball to see if they’re a legitimate Final Four contender, the answer is starting to look like a loud "yes." They aren't just winning; they're finding different ways to win. Some nights it’s a track meet. Yesterday, it was a second-half grind.
Looking Ahead to the Next Matchup
The schedule doesn't get any easier, because it never does in this league. Illinois heads back to work soon, and they can't afford a hangover from this win. They’ve got Maryland coming up on January 21.
🔗 Read more: Jake Paul Mike Tyson Tattoo: What Most People Get Wrong
Maryland always plays the Illini tough. It doesn't matter what the records are.
Coach Underwood mentioned in the post-game presser that the team needs to start faster. You can't keep spotting teams early leads and expecting Big Z to bail you out in the second half. It worked against the Gophers, but that’s a dangerous game to play once February rolls around.
Key Takeaways from the 77-67 Victory
- Bench Depth: 22 bench points compared to Minnesota's 5. That is a massive gap.
- Paint Dominance: The Illini's size eventually neutralized the Gophers' early perimeter success.
- Free Throws: Illinois went 16-of-19 from the stripe. You win close games at the line.
- Consistency: Keaton Wagler has now scored 10+ points in ten straight games.
The score of illinois basketball is more than just the final tally; it's a reflection of a team that is learning how to absorb a punch and punch back harder. They stayed calm when Minnesota took an early lead, and they trusted their system.
If you want to keep up with the team, keep an eye on the turnover margin. They had 10 turnovers yesterday, which isn't terrible, but it's an area where Underwood usually wants to see more discipline.
For fans following the journey, the next step is simple: watch the Maryland game for the first five minutes. If Illinois comes out with the same defensive intensity they showed in the second half yesterday, they’ll be hard to beat. Check the local listings for the 6 PM CT tip-off on BTN. You can also catch the radio broadcast on the Busey Bank Illini Sports Network if you're on the road.
Stay tuned to the official box scores and injury reports as the team prepares for the midweek trip. The Big Ten race is a marathon, not a sprint, and every ten-point win at home is a massive step toward a high seed in March.