Northwestern Wildcats Fall to Illinois Fighting Illini in College Basketball Matchup

Illinois extends winning streak to 11 games with 14-point victory over Northwestern

Feb. 4, 2026 at 8:07am

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The Northwestern Wildcats faced off against the Illinois Fighting Illini in a college basketball matchup at the State Farm Center in Champaign, Illinois. Despite a strong effort from the Wildcats, the Fighting Illini emerged victorious with a 14-point win, extending their winning streak to 11 games.

Why it matters

This game was an important conference matchup between two Big Ten rivals. Illinois, ranked among the top teams in the nation, continued its dominant run, while Northwestern struggled to keep pace, dropping its 7th game out of the last 9.

The details

The Fighting Illini were led by Keaton Wagler, who scored 18 points, and Andrej Stojakovic, who added 13 points. Northwestern was paced by Nick Martinelli, who had 24 points and 7 rebounds, but the Wildcats were unable to overcome Illinois' balanced scoring attack and stifling defense.

  • The game took place on Wednesday, February 4, 2026 at 9:00 PM EST.
  • Illinois has now won 11 straight games against non-AP ranked opponents.

The players

Keaton Wagler

The leading scorer for the Illinois Fighting Illini, averaging 18.1 points per game this season.

Andrej Stojakovic

A key contributor for the Illinois Fighting Illini, averaging 13.3 points per game.

Nick Martinelli

The leading scorer for the Northwestern Wildcats, averaging 23.7 points and 6.8 rebounds per game.

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What they’re saying

“We knew this was going to be a tough game against a very good Illinois team, but I'm proud of the effort our guys put forth. We'll learn from this experience and look to bounce back in our next game.”

— Chris Collins, Head Coach, Northwestern Wildcats

“Our team has really come together over the past few weeks, and this win is a testament to the hard work we've put in. We're going to enjoy this victory, but we know we have to stay focused as we prepare for our next challenge.”

— Brad Underwood, Head Coach, Illinois Fighting Illini

What’s next

The Northwestern Wildcats will look to rebound from this loss when they travel to face the Iowa Hawkeyes on their next game. The Illinois Fighting Illini will continue their Big Ten schedule with a road matchup against the Michigan State Spartans.

The takeaway

This game showcased the growing divide between the top-tier teams in the Big Ten, like Illinois, and the middle-of-the-pack programs like Northwestern. The Wildcats will need to find a way to close the gap if they hope to compete with the conference's elite in the coming seasons.