Illinois Reaches First Final Four Since 2005, Ends Iowa's Cinderella Run

Illini pull away late to defeat Hawkeyes 71-59 in Elite Eight matchup

Mar. 29, 2026 at 1:52am

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No. 3 Illinois defeated No. 9 Iowa 71-59 in the Elite Eight to advance to their first Final Four since 2005. The Illini overcame a slow start and a lengthy first-half delay to rally past the Hawkeyes, who were playing in their first Elite Eight since 1987. Illinois will now face either Duke or UConn in the national semifinals next weekend in Indianapolis.

Why it matters

Illinois' victory ends the Cinderella run of Iowa, the lowest-seeded Big Ten team to ever reach the Elite Eight. The Illini, meanwhile, are now one step closer to their first national championship since 2005, which would also be the Big Ten's first title since 2000.

The details

After Iowa jumped out to a 12-2 lead, the game was delayed for 11 minutes due to a malfunctioning buzzer in the Toyota Center. Once play resumed, the Hawkeyes maintained their lead for much of the first half, taking a 32-28 advantage into the break. But Illinois took control in the second half, using a 10-1 run to pull away and hold on for the 12-point victory. The Illini outrebounded Iowa 35-20 and held the Hawkeyes to just 1-of-13 shooting over the final minutes.

  • The game was delayed for 11 minutes in the first half due to a malfunctioning buzzer in the Toyota Center.
  • Illinois took its first lead of the game just minutes into the second half.

The players

Keaton Wagler

Led Illinois with 25 points on 8-of-17 shooting.

Bennett Stirtz

Scored a game-high 24 points for Iowa in the loss.

Andrej Stojakovic

Added 17 points off the bench for Illinois.

Tomislav Ivisic

Contributed 13 points for the Illini.

Ben McCollum

In his first year as Iowa's head coach, led the Hawkeyes to their first Elite Eight appearance since 1987.

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What they’re saying

“We knew Iowa was going to come out strong, but we weathered the storm and found a way to get it done in the second half.”

— Keaton Wagler, Illinois Guard

What’s next

Illinois will face either No. 1 Duke or No. 2 UConn in the Final Four next weekend in Indianapolis.

The takeaway

Illinois' victory over Iowa not only ends the Hawkeyes' Cinderella tournament run, but also puts the Illini one step closer to their first national championship since 2005. With their balanced scoring attack and stifling defense, Illinois looks primed to capture the Big Ten's first NCAA title in over two decades.