Published on December 8, 2025 6:20 am
Last Updated on December 8, 2025 6:20 am
BY UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – No. 14 Illinois used a balanced attack to deal the knockout blow in a 75-62 victory over No. 13 Tennessee in a physical, back-and-forth Music City Madness bout Saturday night at Bridgestone Arena.
Illinois (7-2) was led by four players in double-figures scoring, including 16 each from junior C Tomislav Ivisic and freshman G Keaton Wagler. Senior G Kylan Boswell (15 points) and freshman F David Mirkovic (10) also hit double-digits as the Illini outshot Tennessee (7-3) 48% to 37% in the contest.
The win, Illinois’ 29th top-25 victory of the Brad Underwood era and its 20th in a ranked-vs.-ranked matchup since 2019-20, snapped a five-game skid for the Orange and Blue in neutral-site games vs. ranked opponents. It also marked the Illini’s first win away from State Farm Center this season, and moved Illinois to 2-2 on the year against Top-25 opponents.
The Orange and Blue led by as many as six points in the first half, but were held to just one field goal over the final three minutes as the Volunteers went to the locker room clinging to a 34-32 lead. Out of the break, however, The Illini went on a 10-3 run, capped by a pair of Wagler 3-pointers, to regain the lead, 42-37 with 16 minutes to play. The Volunteers briefly regained a 49-48 lead at the 11:03 mark in the second, before Illinois answered with a 15-3 run to push the lead to double-digits for the first time at 63-52 with just under 7 minutes remaining.
Tennesse cut the Illinois lead to six points twice over the next few minutes, but Zvonimir Ivisic answered each time with 3-pointers on back-to-back Illini possessions to push the Illini advantage back to nine points. The triples from Zvonimir Ivisic jump-started a 12-5 run that allowed the Illini to close out the ranked win.
The 62 points surrendered by the Illini marked the team’s fewest points allowed in a top-25 win vs. a nonconference opponent since a 75-59 victory over #25 Missouri on Dec. 23, 2008.
Illinois has a quick turnaround with its Big Ten opener set for Tuesday night at Ohio State. Tipoff between Fighting Illini and the Buckeyes is set for 7:30 p.m. ET/6:30 p.m. CT, with the matchup streamed live on Peacock.
POSTGAME NOTES
Team Notes
Starters: Kylan Boswell, Keaton Wagler, Andrej Stojakovic, David Mirkovic, and Tomislav Ivisic
Illinois recorded its 29th victory over a top 25 opponent since 2019-20, tied for ninth-most nationally during that span with Gonzaga.
Illinois improved to 2-2 on the season in four nonconference matchups vs. top-25 opponents.
W, 81-77 vs. #11 Texas Tech (Nov. 11 at State Farm Center)
L, 90-86 vs. #11 Alabama (Nov. 19 at United Center)
L, 74-61 vs. #5 UConn (Nov. 28 at Madison Square Garden)
W, 75-62 vs. #13 Tennessee (Dec. 6 at Bridgestone Arena)
Illinois recorded its first victory of the season away from State Farm Center.
The Illini are 6-0 at home and 1-2 in three neutral-site matchups vs. top 25 opponents
Illinois snapped a five-game losing streak in neutral-site matchups vs. top-25 opponents.
First win vs. a ranked opponent on a neutral floor since a 90-77 victory over #19 Arkansas on Nov. 28, 2024 at T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Mo.
Illinois’ first ranked-vs.-ranked victory since the #10 Illini defeated #4-ranked Iowa State, 72-69, at TD Garden in Boston to advance to the 2024 NCAA Elite Eight.
The 62 points allowed to the Volunteers marked:
Illinois’ fewest points surrendered to a top-25 opponent since a 66-62 victory over #21 Northwestern on Feb. 23, 2023
Illinois’ fewest points allowed in a top-25 win vs. a nonconference opponent since a 75-59 victory over #25 Missouri on Dec. 23, 2008.