{"id":27689,"date":"2026-01-15T06:19:52","date_gmt":"2026-01-15T12:19:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thexradio.com\/news\/?p=27689"},"modified":"2026-01-15T06:19:52","modified_gmt":"2026-01-15T12:19:52","slug":"illinois-pushes-win-streak-to-six-straight-by-downing-northwestern","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thexradio.com\/news\/sports\/basketball\/27689-illinois-pushes-win-streak-to-six-straight-by-downing-northwestern\/","title":{"rendered":"Illinois Pushes Win Streak to Six Straight By Downing Northwestern"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"image_print\"Print<\/span><\/a><\/div>

BY UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS<\/strong><\/p>\n

EVANSTON, Ill. \u2013No. 13 Illinois captured a 79-68 road win at Northwestern on Wednesday night, extending the Fighting Illini’s season-long win streak to six games behind 22 points from Keaton Wagler<\/a><\/dfn>\u00a0and 21 from\u00a0Tomislav Ivisic<\/a><\/dfn>.<\/p>\n

With the win, the Illini (14-3, 5-1 B1G) are off to their best 17-game start since the 2012-13 and improve to 4-0 on the road in Big Ten play for the first time since 2004-05.<\/p>\n

Wagler poured in 20 of his 22 points in the second half \u2013 the most by a Big Ten freshman in a single stanza this season \u2013 including 3-for-5 from 3-point range and 3-for-3 from the free-throw line.<\/p>\n

Ivisic scored 14 points after the break, also knocking down three of his four 3-pointers after the intermission. He finished as the Illini’s top rebounder with seven total rebounds. He and Wagler (five total rebounds) each posted three offensive rebounds in the contest.<\/p>\n

Kylan Boswell<\/a><\/dfn>\u00a0also finished in double-figures scoring with 13 points for the Illini, while adding four rebounds and a game-high six assists and two steals.<\/p>\n

The first half was a back-and-forth battle that featured eight lead changes before an Illini run to close the period gave the Orange and Blue a lead they would not relinquish. Trailing 27-25, the Illini closed the period by outscoring the Wildcats 13-6 over the final four minutes of action to take control. Boswell accounted for the Illini’s final five points of the half.<\/p>\n

Back-to-back 3-pointers from Wagler and Ivisic pushed the Illini lead into double-figures, 46-35, with 18 minutes to play. And a 9-0 Illini run that included a triple from\u00a0Jake Davis<\/a><\/dfn>\u00a0followed by six straight points from Wagler extended the lead to 62-47 just past the midway point of the period.<\/p>\n

Northwestern answered with a 10-0 run of their own to pull back within five points, 62-57. But Ivisic (11 points), Wagler (four), and Boswell (two) combined to score all 17 of the Illini’s points over the final 7:12 to close out the double-digit road win.<\/p>\n

Illinois outscored Northwestern, 34-18, in the paint. The Orange and Blue also knocked down 11 3-pointers, the team’s Big Ten-leading 12th<\/sup>\u00a0game of the season with at least 10 triples.<\/p>\n

Next up, Illinois returns to State Farm Center to open a two-game homestand Saturday vs. Minnesota. Tipoff vs. the Golden Gophers is set for 11 a.m. CT on BTN.<\/p>\n

HIGHLIGHTS<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Player Notes<\/strong><\/p>\n