Keaton Wagler’s 28 Points Propel No. 9 Illinois Past No. 5 Nebraska, Extending Thrilling Win Streak to 11 Games

There’s nothing quite like the buzz of a top-10 showdown, especially when it takes place on Nebraska’s turf—where stakes are sky-high and every possession counts. Sunday’s clash saw No. 9 Illinois snap a dominant run with a hard-fought 78-69 victory over No. 5 Nebraska, fueled by Keaton Wagler’s remarkable 28-point explosion. It’s thrilling to see the Fighting Illini extend their winning streak to 11 games, showcasing their resilience and knack for clutch moments, particularly as they smothered Nebraska’s offense in the pivotal second half. Meanwhile, the Cornhuskers felt the sting of a second consecutive loss after a long reign of success, grappling with a tightened Illinois defense that allowed only four field goals early in the half. The game wasn’t just a battle of skill but a strategic chess match, with Illinois dominating rebounds and free throws to tilt the scales. For fans who live for this spine-tingling, edge-of-the-seat drama—this was pure basketball gold. LEARN MORE

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Keaton Wagler scored 28 points and No. 9 Illinois won its 11th straight game, beating No. 5 Nebraska 78-69 on Sunday in the first matchup of top-10 teams the Cornhuskers have hosted.

The Fighting Illini (19-3, 10-1 Big Ten), who haven’t lost since falling 83-80 at home to Nebraska on Dec. 13, held the Huskers to four field goals in the first 13 minutes of the second half.

Nebraska (20-2, 9-2) lost its second straight. The Huskers were beaten on the road Tuesday by another top-10 opponent, No. 3 Michigan, ending their 24-game win streak dating to last season.

Jake Davis finished with 13 points for Illinois, Tomislav Ivisic scored 12 and David Mirkovic had 10.

Braden Frager returned for Nebraska after missing the previous two games with an ankle injury and scored 20 points. Pryce Sandfort added 14 points, Sam Hoiberg had 13 and Jamarques Lawrence scored 10.

Nebraska hit 11 of 20 3-pointers before halftime to lead 39-33 at the break. But the Huskers made only four 3s in the second half against a tightened Illinois defense.

The Illini outscored Nebraska 18-8 to open the second half. A 3-pointer by Wagler with 13:05 left put Illinois ahead 49-47, a lead it did not relinquish. Wagler hit another 3 with 6:45 remaining to cap a 10-0 run that made it 63-52.

The Huskers trailed by at least seven points the rest of the way.

While Illinois made nine 3-pointers to 15 for Nebraska, the Illini dominated at the free-throw line, outscoring the Huskers 21-4. Illinois also had a 10-point edge in the paint and a 40-27 advantage in rebounds.

Up next

Illinois: Hosts Northwestern on Wednesday.

Nebraska: Visits Rutgers on Saturday.

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