Illinois defeats Iowa 69-75
Illinois Edges Iowa in Narrow Victory at Carver-Hawkeye Arena
The University of Illinois men's basketball team edged the Hawkeyes of the University of Iowa 75-69 on Tuesday night, handing their conference opponents a tough road loss.
For the visiting Illini, it was a much-needed victory, as they have struggled to find consistency this season. The team's balanced attack proved too much for the home team to handle, with four players scoring in double figures.
Keaton Wagler led Illinois on offense, knocking down 4-of-7 three-point attempts and finishing with 19 points. David Mirkovic chipped in 7 points and grabbed 12 rebounds, while also dishing out five assists.
On the defensive end, Illinois held Iowa to a modest 27.3% field goal percentage, limiting their opponent's scoring opportunities. The Illini also forced 12 turnovers from the Hawkeyes, which ultimately led to several easy baskets.
Iowa struggled to find its rhythm on offense, shooting just 42.0% from the field and 31.0% from three-point range. Tavion Banks was the team's leading scorer, putting up 16 points while grabbing eight rebounds.
The game seesawed back and forth throughout, with neither team able to establish a significant lead until late in the fourth quarter. At one point, Illinois held an 18-point advantage, but Iowa fought back to cut the deficit to just six with under two minutes remaining.
Ultimately, however, the Illini's superior balance and discipline proved too much for the Hawkeyes. Illinois closed out the game with a strong defensive effort, holding Iowa without a field goal over the final minute to seal the victory.
The win marked a significant turning point in the season for Illinois, who now sit atop the conference standings. For Iowa, it was a tough road loss at home that highlights their struggles this season.
Game Statistics
* Field Goals: 27/65 (42.0%)
* 2-Point FG: 18/36 (50.0%)
* 3-Point FG: 9/29 (31.0%)
* Free Throws: 6/6 (100.0%)
* Rebounds: 30 (Off: 9, Def: 21)
* Assists: 19
* Turnovers: 8
* Steals: 5
* Blocks: 2
* Total Fouls: 14
* Field Goals: 28/57 (49.0%)
* 2-Point FG: 18/29 (62.1%)
* 3-Point FG: 10/28 (36.0%)
* Free Throws: 9/11 (82.0%)
* Rebounds: 38 (Off: 9, Def: 29)
* Assists: 15
* Turnovers: 12
* Steals: 7
* Blocks: 4
* Total Fouls: 11
Advanced Statistics
* eFG%:
+ Iowa: 48.5%
+ Illinois: 57.9%
* True Shooting%:
+ Iowa: 51.0%
+ Illinois: 60.6%
* OREB%:
+ Iowa: 30.0%
+ Illinois: 23.7%
Context
The game was played at Carver-Hawkeye Arena, the home venue for the Hawkeyes.