Illinois Bulldozes Past Iowa, Punches Ticket to First Final Four Since 2005

The Illini's size and physicality proved too much for the Hawkeyes in the Elite Eight matchup.

Mar. 29, 2026 at 2:28am

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The third-seeded Illinois Illini overcame a slow start to defeat the ninth-seeded Iowa Hawkeyes 71-59 in the Elite Eight, securing their first Final Four appearance since 2005. Despite struggling from three-point range, Illinois dominated the paint, outscoring Iowa 40-12 inside and crashing the offensive glass for second-chance opportunities. The Illini's size and defense ultimately wore down the Hawkeyes, with Tomislav Ivisic, David Mirkovic, and Andrej Stojakovic leading the way.

Why it matters

Illinois' victory over Iowa marks the program's first Final Four berth in 21 years, a significant milestone for a team that has emerged as a national power in recent seasons. The Illini's ability to overcome a slow start and leverage their size and physicality against a tough Iowa squad showcases their resilience and adaptability, traits that will be crucial as they advance to the national semifinals.

The details

Illinois struggled to find its rhythm early, shooting just 37% from the field in the first half as Iowa's defense disrupted the Illini's usual matchup advantages. However, Illinois kept attacking the offensive glass, grabbing 10 offensive rebounds before halftime to keep the game close. The Illini finally broke through in the second half by pounding the ball inside to their bigs, with Tomislav Ivisic and David Mirkovic exploiting mismatches in the paint. As Iowa's shooters cooled off, Illinois' defense clamped down, leading to an 8-0 run that opened up a comfortable lead. Andrej Stojakovic and Keaton Wagler also made key contributions down the stretch to secure the victory.

  • Illinois and Iowa traded the lead 13 times in the second half before the Illini pulled away.
  • A pair of Mirkovic free throws jumpstarted an 8-0 Illinois run that opened up a comfortable lead.
  • Stojakovic's layup and six straight free throws from Wagler and Kylan Boswell sealed the win for Illinois.

The players

Tomislav Ivisic

A 7-foot-1 center who scored 13 points and had two blocks for Illinois.

David Mirkovic

A 6-foot-9 forward who contributed 9 points and one block for the Illini.

Andrej Stojakovic

A key scorer for Illinois, pouring in 17 points and driving to the rim effectively.

Keaton Wagler

The Illini point guard shook off a slow start to keep Illinois within striking distance.

Bennett Stirtz

The Iowa guard scored a team-high 24 points, including 15 in the first half, to keep the Hawkeyes in the game.

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What’s next

Illinois will face the winner of Duke-UConn in the Final Four next Saturday in Indianapolis.

The takeaway

Illinois' dominant performance in the paint and relentless offensive rebounding proved to be the difference, as the Illini's size and physicality eventually wore down a tough Iowa squad. This victory marks a significant milestone for the program, as they return to the Final Four for the first time in over two decades.