Illinois Pulls Away Late to Beat Indiana 71-51

No. 8 Illinois dominates the glass to wear down Indiana in Big Ten matchup

Published on Feb. 16, 2026

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No. 8 Illinois used a big rebounding edge, especially on the offensive glass, to pull away for a 71-51 win over Indiana on Sunday at State Farm Center. The Hoosiers trailed by just 7 at halftime, but Illinois flipped the game after the break by controlling possessions and cashing in second-chance points.

Why it matters

This Big Ten matchup between two ranked teams highlighted Illinois' ability to dominate the boards and turn that into a decisive victory. Indiana' s inability to finish defensive possessions allowed Illinois to extend key possessions and wear down the Hoosiers.

The details

Illinois outrebounded Indiana 38-25, including a 15-8 advantage on the offensive glass that led to 17 second-chance points. David Mirkovic led the Illini with 25 points, 7 rebounds, while Keaton Wagler added 18 points and Tomislav Ivisic had 14, including 12 in the second half. Indiana was led by Lamar Wilkerson' s 21 points, but the Hoosiers were outscored 33-20 in the second half as Illinois pulled away.

  • The game was played on Sunday, February 16, 2026 at State Farm Center in Champaign, Illinois.

The players

David Mirkovic

A key player for Illinois, scoring 25 points and grabbing 7 rebounds in the win.

Keaton Wagler

Scored 18 points for Illinois in the victory.

Tomislav Ivisic

Scored 14 points for Illinois, including 12 in the second half to help the Illini pull away.

Lamar Wilkerson

Led Indiana with 21 points, 14 of them in the first half.

Tucker DeVries

Scored 13 points for Indiana in the loss.

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What they’re saying

“We must win the battle on the boards to be successful, and our guys really stepped up in the second half to control the glass at both ends.”

— Brad Underwood, Illinois Head Coach

What’s next

Illinois will look to build on this win as they continue their Big Ten schedule, while Indiana will try to rebound in their next conference matchup.

The takeaway

Illinois' dominance on the boards, especially on the offensive end, proved to be the difference in this Big Ten battle. The Illini' s ability to extend possessions and get second-chance points wore down Indiana and allowed Illinois to pull away late.