No. 3 Illinois Dominates Penn With 65-Point Second Half

Fighting Illini advance to face No. 11 VCU after blowout NCAA Tournament win

Mar. 20, 2026 at 10:10am

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No. 3 seed Illinois cruised to a 105-70 victory over No. 14 seed Penn in the first round of the NCAA Tournament's South Region. The Fighting Illini outscored the Quakers 65-40 in the second half, led by David Mirkovic's 29 points and 17 rebounds. Illinois shot 15-for-36 (41.7%) from 3-point range in the lopsided win.

Why it matters

Illinois, a top-5 team in the country, showed its offensive firepower by overwhelming Penn, an Ivy League school making its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2018. The Fighting Illini's dominant performance sets them up for a second-round matchup against No. 11 seed VCU, with the winner potentially facing a top seed in the Sweet 16.

The details

Illinois raced out to an early lead, going up by as many as 13 points in the first half. Penn cut the deficit to 4 points, but the Fighting Illini responded with a 14-2 run early in the second half to pull away. Illinois continued to pour it on, at one point leading by as much as 42 points. The Fighting Illini shot the ball extremely well, hitting 15 3-pointers and reaching the 100-point mark for the fourth time this season.

  • The game was played on Thursday, March 20, 2026.
  • Illinois will face No. 11 VCU on Saturday, March 22, 2026.

The players

David Mirkovic

A standout player for Illinois, Mirkovic led the team with 29 points and 17 rebounds in the blowout win.

Keaton Wagler

Illinois guard Keaton Wagler contributed 18 points, 7 rebounds, and 7 assists in the victory.

Michael Zanoni

Penn's leading scorer, Zanoni had 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 on Saturday, March 22, 2026, with the winner potentially advancing to the Sweet 16.

The takeaway

Illinois' dominant performance against Penn showcased the Fighting Illini's offensive firepower and depth, setting them up for a potential deep NCAA Tournament run. The lopsided victory also highlighted the talent gap between a top-5 program like Illinois and an Ivy League school like Penn, which was making its first Tournament appearance in 8 years.