CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — In a commanding performance, Tomislav Ivisic led the Illinois Fighting Illini to a significant 90-58 victory against their local adversaries, the SIU Edwardsville Cougars, on Friday night. This win marked Illinois’ second consecutive triumph of the season, showcasing their offensive prowess.

The game kicked off with an explosive dunk by Ivisic just moments after the tip-off. Following that, Tre White contributed to the rapid scoring with consecutive three-pointers. The Illini quickly established a strong lead, resulting in a 46-28 advantage by halftime. They demonstrated a powerful shooting performance, making eight three-pointers in the first half alone, and concluded the match with an impressive 15 successful shots from beyond the arc out of 38 attempts.

Illinois had a strong lineup in terms of scoring threes, with Kasparas Jakucionis racking up 13 assists along with 12 points. Meanwhile, Ben Humrichous was effective from deep, sinking five out of eight attempts to finish with 16 points. Will Riley contributed 14 points from the bench, and Tre White added 13 points with three from deep. The team saw balanced scoring with eleven players contributing, highlighting a collaborative offensive effort.

On the opposing side, Reysean Taylor led the Cougars with 14 points, and Brian Taylor II supported the effort with 10 points. Unfortunately for SIU Edwardsville, their shooting struggles were evident, as they managed to hit only 20 of 73 attempts from the floor, accounting for a shooting percentage of 30.1%. They also struggled from three-point range, making just six of 24 shots.

This match not only underscored Illinois’s dominance but also highlighted the challenges faced by their rivals. With their next game on the horizon, the Illini will look to build on this momentum as they continue through the season.