Illinois Defeats Iowa in Elite Eight Thriller, Advances to Final Four

Illini overcome Hawkeyes' upset bid to reach first Final Four since 2005

Mar. 28, 2026 at 5:05pm

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The third-seeded Illinois Fighting Illini (27-8) defeated the ninth-seeded Iowa Hawkeyes (30-6) in a hard-fought 77-71 victory to advance to the NCAA Tournament Final Four for the first time since 2005. The Illini used their size and defensive intensity to overcome a strong effort from Iowa star forward Cam Manyawu and head coach Ben McCollum's game plan.

Why it matters

Illinois' return to the Final Four marks a significant milestone for the program, which has not reached this stage of the tournament in over 20 years. The victory also denies Iowa, a team that was on the bubble entering March, a chance to pull off another upset and potentially make a Cinderella run to the national championship game.

The details

Illinois jumped out to an early lead behind strong interior play from center Tomislav Ivisic and timely shooting from guard Kylan Boswell. However, Iowa fought back in the second half, with Manyawu scoring 18 points to keep the Hawkeyes within striking distance. In the end, Illinois' size advantage and defensive intensity proved too much for Iowa to overcome, as the Illini held on for the 77-71 victory.

  • The game was played on Saturday, March 28, 2026 at 5:09 PM CT.
  • Illinois and Iowa had met earlier this season, with the Illini winning that matchup.

The players

Tomislav Ivisic

Illinois' starting center, who played a key role in the team's interior dominance.

Kylan Boswell

Illinois' starting guard, who provided timely scoring to help the Illini build an early lead.

Cam Manyawu

Iowa's star forward, who led the Hawkeyes' comeback effort with 18 points.

Ben McCollum

Iowa's head coach, who is known for his innovative game-planning and ability to lead underdog teams to success.

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What they’re saying

“We knew Iowa was going to be a tough out, but our guys really stepped up on the defensive end and made the plays we needed to get the win.”

— Brad Underwood, Illinois Head Coach

“I'm proud of the way our team fought and gave it everything they had. Illinois is a great team, and we just came up a little short today.”

— Ben McCollum, Iowa Head Coach

What’s next

Illinois will face the winner of the other Elite Eight matchup in the Final Four on April 5th.

The takeaway

Illinois' return to the Final Four for the first time since 2005 is a testament to the program's resurgence under head coach Brad Underwood. The Illini's combination of size, defense, and timely scoring proved too much for the upstart Hawkeyes, setting up an exciting Final Four appearance for the storied program.