Illinois Avenges Earlier Loss, Beats Nebraska on the Road

Illini overcome hot Nebraska start to extend winning streak to 11 games

Feb. 1, 2026 at 7:15pm

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The Illinois Fighting Illini entered a hostile environment at Pinnacle Bank Arena and pulled out a 78-69 victory over the Nebraska Cornhuskers, avenging an earlier loss to their Big Ten rival. After Nebraska came out firing from three-point range in the first half, Illinois locked in defensively after halftime and leaned on a big second-half performance from freshman guard Keaton Wagler to secure the road win.

Why it matters

This victory marks Illinois' second straight road win over a top-5 Big Ten opponent, further solidifying the Illini as a legitimate national title contender. The win also extends their winning streak to 11 games, showcasing the team's resilience and growth throughout the season.

The details

Nebraska wasted no time in the first half, knocking down 11 three-pointers to build a 39-33 halftime lead. However, Illinois made key defensive adjustments in the second half, taking away the Huskers' open looks from deep and forcing them to work for every shot. Wagler took over offensively, scoring 23 of his game-high 28 points after the break to lead the Illini comeback. Illinois' balanced attack and composed play down the stretch allowed them to pull away for the 9-point victory.

  • The last time these two teams met, Nebraska stole a win in Champaign on a buzzer beater.
  • Illinois entered Pinnacle Bank Arena on Sunday night, February 1, 2026, looking to avenge that earlier loss.

The players

Keaton Wagler

A freshman guard for Illinois who scored a game-high 28 points, including 23 in the second half, to lead the Illini comeback.

Tomislav Ivisic

An Illinois center who made a highlight-reel pass in the second half to help seal the victory for the Illini.

Zvonimir Ivisic

An Illinois center who made a key defensive play in the second half to help the Illini lock down the Cornhuskers.

Pryce Sandfort

A Nebraska player who was a standout shooter in the first half, knocking down multiple three-pointers to keep the Cornhuskers in the game.

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What they’re saying

“Tough travels well.”

— Illinois Men's Basketball

“Omg. WHAT A PLAY BY BIG Z!!!!”

— Writing Illini

“Keaton Wagler has so clearly grown into a college superstar that can take over any game. Probably the biggest upside swinging asset for Illinois to contend this year...”

— Ryan Hammer

What’s next

Illinois will look to continue its hot streak when it hosts a top-10 Michigan State team next Saturday.

The takeaway

This victory showcases Illinois' resilience and growth as a team, as they were able to overcome a hot-shooting first half by Nebraska to pull out a crucial road win against a top-5 Big Ten opponent. The Illini's balanced attack and defensive adjustments in the second half were key factors in securing the victory and extending their winning streak to 11 games.