No. 16 Illinois Preserves Big Early Lead in 75-69 Road Win Over No. 19 Iowa
Illinois turns a fast start into another Big Ten road win
No. 16 Illinois continued its strong run in conference play by holding off No. 19 Iowa 75-69 on Sunday, using a dominant early stretch to build a cushion that ultimately proved decisive. The Fighting Illini improved to 13-3 overall and 4-1 in the Big Ten, while the Hawkeyes fell to 12-4 and 2-3.
The result extended Illinois’ winning streak to five games and kept the Illini tied for third place in the conference. It also reinforced a growing theme in Illinois’ season: the ability to win away from home. Three of the team’s conference victories have come on the road, including wins at Ohio State and Penn State in addition to Sunday’s performance at Iowa.
Although the final margin was six points, the game featured two distinct phases: Illinois’ early control and Iowa’s late push. Illinois’ challenge was to convert its first-half dominance into a complete road win, while Iowa’s task was to overcome a significant deficit against a ranked opponent that had already shown it could close out games in hostile environments.
Balanced scoring leads Illinois, with Wagler on top
Illinois received production from multiple scorers, with three players reaching double figures. Keaton Wagler led the Illini with 19 points, while Andrej Stojakovic and Kylan Boswell each added 17. That trio accounted for a substantial portion of Illinois’ offense and provided the consistency needed to withstand Iowa’s rally after halftime.
The Illini’s ability to rely on more than one option mattered, particularly in the closing minutes when Iowa repeatedly threatened to cut the lead to a one-possession game. Illinois did not need to depend on a single late-game scorer; instead, it leaned on the foundation built earlier and the steady output from its top contributors throughout the contest.
Iowa’s rally tests Illinois after a 17-point deficit
Illinois appeared to have full control when it led 58-41 with 11:25 remaining. From that point, Iowa began to chip away, turning the game into a tight finish. The Hawkeyes got within four points four separate times in the final two minutes, repeatedly putting pressure on Illinois to execute in late-game possessions.
The closest moment came at 71-67 with 55 seconds left, when Iowa had an opportunity to cut the deficit further. However, Bennett Stirtz missed a layup that could have made the closing sequence even more tense for Illinois. The Illini ultimately held on, preserving the early advantage they had built and leaving Iowa to reflect on missed chances during the comeback attempt.
From Iowa’s perspective, the rally demonstrated resilience after a difficult first half. Still, the Hawkeyes were left with too much ground to make up, and the late push was not enough to fully erase the deficit created earlier.
Foul trouble shifts the flow, even as Iowa makes its run
A key element of Iowa’s comeback came during a stretch when Stirtz, the team’s leading scorer this season at 18 points per game, was on the bench due to foul trouble. Stirtz picked up his fourth foul with 11:36 to go and sat for seven minutes. During that period, Iowa outscored Illinois 18-10, a swing that helped transform what had been a comfortable Illinois lead into a game with late drama.
The run without Stirtz highlighted Iowa’s ability to generate offense and stops even when its primary scorer was unavailable. At the same time, it underscored how quickly momentum can shift in conference play, particularly in a rivalry setting where energy and urgency can change the tone of a game in a matter of possessions.
For Illinois, the stretch served as a reminder that road wins in the Big Ten often require surviving the opponent’s best run. Even with a large lead, the Illini had to respond to changes in pace and intensity, and they ultimately did enough to avoid letting the game slip away.
Iowa’s scoring leaders and a close finish that fell short
Iowa had four players score in double figures, led by Tavion Banks with 16 points. Tate Sage finished with 13, Stirtz scored 12, and Cooper Koch added 10. The distribution reflected a team that found multiple sources of offense, particularly during the comeback effort, but it also showed the challenge of making up for an early deficit against a ranked opponent that had already banked significant points.
Despite repeatedly drawing within four points late, Iowa could not complete the final step of the comeback. The missed layup by Stirtz with under a minute remaining was one of the pivotal moments in a finish filled with pressure possessions, where a single conversion can reshape the final sequence.
The game ended with Illinois maintaining its edge, while Iowa was left with another narrow loss in conference play after a second-half surge that nearly flipped the outcome.
McCollum’s candid sideline approach becomes part of the story
Beyond the scoring and the late-game tension, Iowa head coach Ben McCollum offered a candid glimpse into his coaching style following the loss. He described a moment during the game when he reprimanded Cooper Koch for a defensive mistake, and he was direct about why he felt it was necessary in the middle of competition.
When asked whether he was concerned about affecting a player’s confidence during the game, McCollum dismissed the idea with a smile, saying he was not worried about it. He emphasized that playing in the Big Ten requires a certain level of readiness to handle criticism and corrections in real time.
McCollum pointed to a specific defensive situation involving Koch, describing an instance in which Koch went under a handoff from Wagler. In McCollum’s view, that decision was not acceptable in the context of what Iowa was trying to do defensively, particularly during a stretch when the Hawkeyes were getting stops and needed to maintain discipline to keep the comeback alive.
The exchange underscored the intensity of conference play and the fine margins that can decide games. It also framed the loss as a learning opportunity, with McCollum characterizing the outcome as another teaching moment for a team navigating the demands of the Big Ten schedule.
First-half dominance: Illinois jumps out early and controls the tempo
The foundation for Illinois’ win was built early. The Illini led 8-0 after the first three minutes, creating open shots on offense while Iowa struggled to find a rhythm. Over the Hawkeyes’ first five possessions, they missed four shots and committed a turnover, a sequence that helped Illinois establish control and confidence from the opening moments.
Illinois’ biggest lead in the first half reached 29-11 with 7:34 remaining. That margin reflected not only Illinois’ offensive effectiveness but also Iowa’s difficulty generating consistent looks early. The Illini’s ability to build such a significant advantage on the road demonstrated poise, and it put Iowa in a position where it needed extended stretches of strong play just to get back into contention.
To Iowa’s credit, the Hawkeyes responded late in the half by hitting three consecutive 3-pointers, a burst that helped cut into the deficit. Even so, they could not get the margin to single digits by halftime. Iowa also missed its last five shots of the half, a cold stretch that prevented the momentum from fully carrying into the break.
By halftime, the story was clear: Illinois had controlled most of the opening period, and Iowa faced a steep climb. The second half would determine whether Illinois could protect what it had built and whether Iowa could turn its late first-half signs of life into a sustained rally.
Key numbers and game takeaways
Final score: Illinois 75, Iowa 69.
Illinois leaders: Keaton Wagler (19 points), Andrej Stojakovic (17), Kylan Boswell (17).
Iowa leaders: Tavion Banks (16 points), Tate Sage (13), Bennett Stirtz (12), Cooper Koch (10).
Illinois record: 13-3 overall, 4-1 Big Ten; five-game winning streak; tied for third in the conference.
Road success: Three of Illinois’ Big Ten wins have come on the road, including at Ohio State and Penn State.
Turning point stretch: Iowa outscored Illinois 18-10 while Stirtz sat for seven minutes after picking up his fourth foul with 11:36 left.
Late opportunity: Iowa had a chance to cut the lead further at 71-67 with 55 seconds left, but Stirtz missed a layup.
What the result says about both teams
For Illinois, the win reinforced the value of starting fast and building a margin that can withstand inevitable swings, especially in conference road games. The Illini showed they can take control early, score with balance, and survive a late surge from a ranked opponent. While the closing minutes were tighter than Illinois would have preferred, the ability to hold on added another road result to a growing list of conference wins away from home.
For Iowa, the loss was a mix of frustration and encouragement. The Hawkeyes’ early struggles put them in a difficult position, but their second-half rally demonstrated competitiveness and the capacity to pressure a top-20 opponent late. The foul trouble that limited Stirtz for a key stretch did not prevent Iowa from making a run, yet the missed chances in the final minute and the inability to fully erase the deficit ultimately defined the outcome.
In a game shaped by an early avalanche from Illinois and a late charge from Iowa, the Illini’s first-half command proved to be the difference. Illinois left with a 75-69 win and continued momentum in the Big Ten race, while Iowa was left to regroup after another close conference finish that did not break its way.