Illinois Dominates Penn in March Madness Opener

Fighting Illini cruise to 24.5-point victory over Ivy League champion Quakers

Mar. 16, 2026 at 9:23pm

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No. 3 seed Illinois easily handled No. 14 seed Penn in the first round of the NCAA Tournament's South Region, winning 88-64 on Thursday night. The Fighting Illini, led by freshman phenom Keaton Wagler's 26 points, proved too much for the Quakers, who were making their first tournament appearance since 2021.

Why it matters

Illinois' dominant performance over Penn showcases the depth and talent of the Fighting Illini, who are considered one of the favorites to make a deep run in this year's March Madness. Meanwhile, Penn's loss ends their Cinderella tournament hopes, though the Quakers can be proud of their Ivy League championship and first-round appearance.

The details

Illinois jumped out to an early lead and never looked back, leading by as many as 28 points in the second half. The Fighting Illini shot 52% from the field and 40% from 3-point range, while holding Penn to just 38% shooting. Wagler led the way for Illinois with 26 points, while Terrence Shannon Jr. added 18 points and Coleman Hawkins chipped in 14. For Penn, TJ Power scored a team-high 18 points, but it wasn't enough to keep up with the firepower of the Big Ten champions.

  • The game was played on Thursday, March 19, 2026 at 6:25 p.m. MST.
  • Illinois entered the tournament as a No. 3 seed, while Penn was a No. 14 seed.

The players

Keaton Wagler

A freshman phenom for Illinois, Wagler led the team with 26 points in the victory.

TJ Power

The star player for Penn, Power scored a team-high 18 points in the losing effort.

Terrence Shannon Jr.

A key contributor for Illinois, Shannon scored 18 points to help the Fighting Illini cruise to the win.

Coleman Hawkins

The versatile forward for Illinois added 14 points in the dominant performance.

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What they’re saying

“This Illinois team is very talented, especially on the offensive end — and after all, the Illini's freshman phenom, Keaton Wagler, topped that mark with 46 points against Purdue in January. Illinois wins.”

— Jay Bilas, ESPN Analyst

“With five different players averaging at least 10 points per game, the Fighting Illini have shown they have plenty of ways to win a game. Penn pulled off an upset to make the tournament, but it will need a lot to go right to do it in March Madness.”

— Evan Gerike, Sports Writer

What’s next

Illinois will advance to face the winner of the Georgia-Saint Louis matchup in the second round of the NCAA Tournament's South Region.

The takeaway

Illinois' dominant performance over Penn demonstrates the Fighting Illini's status as one of the top teams in this year's March Madness field, with a deep and talented roster capable of making a deep tournament run. Meanwhile, Penn's tournament appearance, though short-lived, is still an impressive accomplishment for the Ivy League champions.