MENS BASKETBALL
Illinois 106, Iowa 94
ASSOCIATED PRESS
INDIANAPOLIS - Kylan Boswell scored a career-high 24 points and four other Illinois players finished in double digits as the 24th-ranked Fighting Illini beat 15th-seeded Iowa 106-94 in a wild second-round Big Ten Tournament game on Thursday night.
Tre White had 22 points and Tomislav Ivisic added 19 points, 10 rebounds and six assists as Illinois (21-11) won its fourth straight. The Illini face No. 11 Maryland in Friday's third quarterfinal game in Indianapolis.
Hawkeyes coach Fran McCaffery wasn't on the bench when Iowa guard Payton Sandfort tied the league's single-game tourney record for 3-pointers. McCaffery was ejected with 13:33 left to play after drawing two technical fouls when he left the coach's box to argue with the refs.
Sandfort made eight 3s, matching a mark done twice previously, to tie a career high with 30 points. Josh Dix added 21 points.
The Hawkeyes (17-16) trailed 69-60 when McCaffery left. But Illinois made all four free throws and fended off a brief momentum swing as Iowa cut the deficit to single digits.
THE TAKEAWAY
Iowa: The Hawkeyes certainly can score. But in their second game in two nights, the up-tempo pace eventually took its toll and eventually wore them down.
Illinois: The Fighting Illini put on quite a shooting clinic, making nearly 55% of their shots. They've certainly been on a roll since losing to Duke.
KEY MOMENT
McCaffery's ejection. Iowa did manage to gain some momentum after the free throws, but it dissipated fast and the team never recovered after falling into another double-digit deficit.
KEY STAT
Yes, Sandfort had the big game, but Illinois offset it by making 12 of 26 3s.
March 13, 2025