No. 9 Illinois hands No. 5 Nebraska second straight loss, prevailing 78-69 in Lincoln

Nebraska's loss to Illinois follows its first defeat of the season earlier in the week at Michigan.

Feb. 1, 2026 at 5:31pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

No. 9 Illinois handed No. 5 Nebraska its second consecutive loss of the season with a 78-69 win at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln on Sunday. The Cornhuskers have now lost two games after beginning the season 20-0 (9-0 in the Big Ten). Nebraska held a 39-33 lead at halftime, but Illinois came back in the second half to secure the victory.

Why it matters

This loss drops Nebraska to second place in the Big Ten standings, tied with No. 7 Michigan State. Illinois, meanwhile, is now tied for first place in the conference with No. 3 Michigan. The game highlights the competitiveness of the Big Ten this season.

The details

Nebraska led 39-33 at halftime, led by Pryce Sandfort and Braden Frager who each scored 12 points. But Illinois opened the second half with a 16-8 run to take the lead. The Cornhuskers closed the deficit to 51-50, but Illinois answered with a 3-pointer and a layup to extend their lead. Illinois eventually grew their lead to 11 points, powered by 28 points from Keaton Wagler.

  • The game was played on Sunday, February 1, 2026.
  • Nebraska lost to Michigan earlier in the week, on Tuesday.

The players

Keaton Wagler

Led Illinois with 28 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists and 2 steals.

Jake Davis

Scored 13 points for Illinois, shooting 3-of-6 on 3-point attempts.

Tomislav Ivisic

Added 12 points and 8 rebounds for Illinois.

Pryce Sandfort

Scored 12 points for Nebraska in the first half.

Braden Frager

Also scored 12 points for Nebraska in the first half.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What’s next

This story will be updated.

The takeaway

The competitive nature of the Big Ten conference this season is highlighted by this game, as a top-5 team in Nebraska suffered its second straight loss, while Illinois moved into a tie for first place in the standings.