Illinois Overwhelms Penn With 65-Point Second Half

No. 3 seed Illinois cruises to 105-70 victory over No. 14 seed Penn in NCAA Tournament first round matchup.

Mar. 20, 2026 at 9:49am

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David Mirkovic scored 29 points and grabbed 17 rebounds to lead No. 3 seed Illinois to a dominant 105-70 victory over No. 14 seed Penn in the first round of the NCAA Tournament's East Region. Illinois outscored Penn 65-40 in the second half, with Keaton Wagler adding 17 points, 7 rebounds and 7 assists for the Fighting Illini. Michael Zanoni's 20 points were not enough for the overmatched Quakers, who were playing in their first NCAA Tournament since 2018.

Why it matters

Illinois' impressive second-half performance showcases the team's offensive firepower and ability to pull away from opponents, which will be crucial as they advance deeper into the NCAA Tournament. Penn's early exit highlights the challenge of smaller programs competing against the top-tier talent of the major conference schools.

The details

Illinois shot 15-for-36 (41.7%) from 3-point range, with Mirkovic, Wagler, Kylan Boswell, Tomislav Ivisic and Ben Humrichous all contributing to the long-range barrage. Penn was limited to just two free throw attempts in the game, struggling to keep pace with Illinois' offensive onslaught.

  • Illinois built an early eight-point lead in the first half.
  • Penn answered with a 9-0 run to pull within four points.
  • Illinois opened the lead back up to 13 points by halftime, leading 40-30.
  • Illinois outscored Penn 65-40 in the second half to cruise to the 105-70 victory.

The players

David Mirkovic

A key player for Illinois, scoring 29 points and grabbing 17 rebounds in the victory.

Keaton Wagler

Contributed 17 points, 7 rebounds and 7 assists for Illinois in the win.

Michael Zanoni

Led Penn with 20 points in the losing effort.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee

What’s next

Illinois will face No. 11 seed VCU in the second round on Saturday.

The takeaway

Illinois' dominant second-half performance showcased the team's offensive firepower and ability to pull away from opponents, setting them up for a potential deep run in the NCAA Tournament. Penn's early exit highlights the challenge smaller programs face when competing against the top-tier talent of major conference schools.