No. 20 Illinois pounces early, closes out Penn State at The Palestra

Field Level Media|published: Sat 3rd January, 21:46 2026

Dec 29, 2025; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini guard Kylan Boswell (4) during the first half against the Southern University Jaguars at State Farm Center. Mandatory Credit: Ron Johnson-Imagn Images

Kylan Boswell scored 18 points, and Keaton Wagler added 16 as No. 20 Illinois secured a 73-65 victory over Penn State on Saturday night in Big Ten play in Philadelphia.

David Mirkovic added 13 points and 10 rebounds and Andrej Stojakovic had 12 points for the Fighting Illini (11-3, 2-1 Big Ten) in a contest played at The Palestra, the famed facility that opened in 1927. Illinois never trailed while winning for the fifth time in six games.

Kayden Mingo recorded 16 points, five assists and four steals and Eli Rice added 11 points for the Nittany Lions (9-5, 0-3), who lost for the fourth time in five games.

The Illini shot 39.3% from the field, hit just 6 of 27 3-point attempts and held a 48-37 rebounding advantage. Backup Zvonimir Ivisic collected 10 rebounds and five blocked shots to go with six points.

Penn State made just 34.8% of its attempts, including a shaky 8 of 38 from behind the arc.

Illinois led 57-43 after a dunk by Ivisic with 9:35 left in the game.

Freddie Dilione V, Sasa Ciani and Tibor Mirtic followed with baskets as the Nittany Lions moved within eight with 7:27 remaining.

Stojakovic converted a layup, Boswell drained a trey and Wagler added two free throws to quickly push the Illini lead to 64-49 with 5:24 left.

Penn State made it 73-63 on a 3-pointer by Mingo with 1:15 to play, but was unable to score again until Mingo's meaningless layup in the final seconds.

Boswell scored 11 points and Wagler added 10 as Illinois led 40-26 at the break.

The Illini scored the first seven points, and Stojakovic later made consecutive layups to increase the lead to 13-3 less than four and a half minutes into the game.

Penn State closed to 17-13 on tip-in by Ciani with 12:22 left in the half.

Wagler then scored the final seven points of a 10-0 burst as Illinois took a 27-13 advantage with 8:51 remaining.

The Nittany Lions crept within 35-26 on Mason Blackwood's 3-pointer with 2:45 left before the Illini scored the final five points of the half.

--Field Level Media

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