Illinois Fighting Illini advance to 2026 NCAA Final Four

For the first time since 2005, the Fighting Illini of Illinois have reached the NCAA Final Four. Illinois took care of their Big Ten rival, the Iowa Hawkeyes by a final score of 71-59.

Iowa led 51-50, and then the Illini went on a 10-1 run to go ahead 60-52 with 4:00 to go in the game.

BIG Z JAMS ⚡️ pic.twitter.com/HhnPXcxF9h

After a timeout, Iowa got back into the game with a three-pointer, but Keaton Wagler and Andrej Stojakovic would not let the Illini lose.

Keaton Wagler finished the game with a team-high 25 points for the Illini. Stojakovic scored 17 off the bench in the game.

David Mirkovic scored nine points and added 12 rebounds in the game.

For Iowa, Bennett Stirtz scored 24 points in the loss.

Unfinished business

In 2005, the Illini reached the NCAA title game with Deron Williams and Dee Brown but fell short to the North Carolina Tar Heels in the final game.

Now, the Orange and Blue will head from Champaign 127 miles down the road to Indianapolis for the Final Four.

More: Elite 8 moment no one saw coming as horn gets stuck in Houston

The Illini will have to wait until Sunday to find out their opponent. The winner of the final game in the East region between Duke and UConn will be the next opponent for Brad Underwood and his Illini.

The win for the Illini moved them to 28-8. Illinois won their first three NCAA Tournament games by double digits. It was 105-70 over Penn, then 76-55 over the VCU Rams. The game on Thursday saw the Illini finish with a 65-55 win over Houston.

Iowa wraps up its dream run to the Elite 8 with a 24-13 record. It was the second time the Hawkeyes lost to Illinois this season.

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