Kylan Boswell’s 22 points and Kasparas Jakucionis’ 21 propelled No. 19 Illinois to a commanding 94-69 victory over Indiana in a Big Ten matchup on Tuesday night at Bloomington, Indiana. Tomislav Ivisic notched 17 points and 11 rebounds, while Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn contributed 12 points as the Illini (13-4, 5-2) bounced back from a recent loss to Southern California. Illinois dominated the boards, holding a 51-37 advantage.
On the other side, Oumar Ballo led Indiana (13-5, 4-3) with 16 points and 15 rebounds before being ejected late in the game. Luke Goode, a former Illinois player, chipped in 13 points, and Myles Rice added 12. Indiana played without their leading scorer, Malik Reneau, for the fourth consecutive game.
The game was marred by several incidents that resulted in flagrant or technical fouls. A scuffle broke out with 2:24 remaining after Goode fouled out and tensions escalated under the basket. Referees handed out multiple technical fouls following the altercation.
Jakucionis, who returned from a two-game absence due to injury, made an immediate impact by scoring 19 points in the first half. He quickly asserted himself on the court, hitting a 3-pointer on Illinois’ first possession and setting the tone for his team.
Illinois capitalized on Indiana’s struggles from beyond the arc, hitting eight first-half threes to build a 60-32 halftime lead. Although Indiana mounted a brief comeback at the start of the second half, Illinois responded with a 10-0 run to put the game out of reach.
Ultimately, Illinois’ strong first-half performance and resilience in the face of adversity propelled them to a convincing victory over Indiana. The Illini showcased their depth and determination, setting the stage for continued success in the competitive Big Ten conference.
