Illinois come from behind 25-PTS to beat Iowa 71-59 in Elite Eight, Advances to NCAA Tournament Final Four in 21 years.
HOUSTON, TX — The first Final Four berth is locked in. Behind 25 points from freshman Keaton Wagler, No. 3 seed Illinois pulled away from No. 9 Iowa for a 71-59 Elite Eight victory, ending a 21-year Final Four drought and sending the Illini to Indianapolis.
In a relentless back-and-forth battle with 13 lead changes, Illinois seized control late — ripping off a decisive run while suffocating Iowa’s offense down the stretch to clinch its first national semifinal appearance since 2005.
Wagler’s star turn anchored the Illinois attack, with Andrej Stojaković adding 17 points and Tomislav Ivišić chipping in 13 to complement a physical, glass-cleaning effort that fueled second-chance opportunities.
Despite a strong performance from Hawkeyes senior Bennett Stirtz, who scored 24 in his final college game, Iowa’s shooting collapsed in the second half — a collapse Illinois exploited to secure its trip to the Final Four.
Next up for Illinois is the winner of No. 1 Duke vs. No. 2 UConn in the national semifinals on April 4 in Indianapolis — a chance to push for the program’s first national title.
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