Illinois' David Mirkovic leads IU win after taking responsibility for OT loss

Mirkovic scored 25 points with 7 rebounds in Illinois' 71-51 victory over Indiana after owning up to the team's previous overtime defeat.

Published on Feb. 16, 2026

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After taking responsibility for Illinois' overtime loss to Wisconsin earlier in the week, forward David Mirkovic led the team to a 71-51 victory over Indiana on Sunday. Mirkovic scored 25 points and grabbed 7 rebounds, with most of his damage coming in the first half. Illinois head coach Brad Underwood credited Mirkovic's accountability and improved practice approach for his strong performance against the Hoosiers.

Why it matters

This game highlighted Mirkovic's leadership and resilience in bouncing back from a tough loss. His willingness to take responsibility and refocus the team's efforts in practice paid off with a decisive win over a conference rival. The victory also kept Illinois in the hunt for a strong Big Ten finish as they continue their push towards the NCAA Tournament.

The details

Mirkovic had 15 points and 5 rebounds in the first half alone, punishing Indiana's defense. Underwood praised Mirkovic's defensive intensity and ability to capitalize on mismatches against the Hoosiers' guards. The win improved Illinois' record to 21-5 overall and 12-3 in the Big Ten, while Indiana fell to 17-9 and 8-7 in conference play.

  • Illinois suffered a narrow overtime loss to Wisconsin on Tuesday, February 11, 2026.
  • The Illinois vs. Indiana game took place on Sunday, February 15, 2026.

The players

David Mirkovic

An Illinois forward who took responsibility for the team's previous overtime loss and responded with a dominant 25-point, 7-rebound performance in the win over Indiana.

Brad Underwood

The head coach of the Illinois basketball team, who credited Mirkovic's accountability and improved practice approach for his strong game against the Hoosiers.

Kylan Boswell

An Illinois guard who returned to the lineup after missing seven games with a broken right hand, contributing 9 points and 7 rebounds in 16 minutes of action.

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What they’re saying

“Right after the (Wisconsin) game, I was not out of the building yet, and I got this unbelievably long text with him taking blame for our loss, and that he wasn't mentally in the right place or where he should have been. It's been a long time since I've gotten one of those, someone stepping up and taking the blame. He said he would never let that happen again. By golly, he didn't.”

— Brad Underwood, Illinois Head Coach (thetelegraph.com)

“His approach to practice was very good. His defensive mindset was very good — he was on (Indiana guard) Tucker Devries, a guy that's a veteran and been around college basketball a long time. And it just carried over to his offense. They switched, and he was able to punish their guards inside.”

— Brad Underwood, Illinois Head Coach (thetelegraph.com)

What’s next

Illinois is scheduled to play a road game at Southern California on Wednesday, February 19, 2026 at 9 p.m. CT/7 p.m. PT.

The takeaway

Mirkovic's accountability and leadership in the face of a tough loss set the tone for Illinois' bounce-back win over Indiana. His willingness to take responsibility and refocus the team's efforts in practice paid dividends, demonstrating the value of owning one's mistakes and using them as motivation to improve.