HOUSTON – In a stunning upset during the NCAA Tournament, third-seeded Illinois showcased a formidable defensive strategy, prevailing against last year’s national runner-up Houston with a score of 65-55 in the South Region semifinals. David Mirkovic played a pivotal role in the victory, contributing 14 points and securing 10 rebounds.
This triumph sets up an exciting matchup for Illinois as they prepare to face ninth-seeded Iowa on Saturday, vying for a coveted spot in the Final Four. For Illinois (27-8), this marks their 11th Elite Eight appearance, and their second in three seasons under Coach Brad Underwood.
The second-seeded Cougars (30-7), who had been looking forward to playing so close to their campus, faced significant challenges with their shooting performance throughout the game. Their struggles on the court left Houston fans disappointed, while the Illini supporters, donned in orange, celebrated their team’s achievement.
“At the beginning of the game, Houston fans were a little louder, but as the game progressed, our fans started to outshine them in their own city,” Mirkovic remarked. “It was crucial for us, like having a wind at our back. Their support pushed us.”
Despite expectations, star freshman point guard Kingston Flemings, projected as a potential NBA lottery pick, managed only 11 points on 4-of-10 shooting, while Milos Uzan struggled even further, hitting just 2 of 11 shots.
The Cougars faced collective offensive struggles, shooting a mere 34% from the field in their lowest-scoring game of the season. Coach Underwood attributed his team’s defensive success to a high level of mental focus, emphasizing the need to maintain that intensity throughout the game.
Although Illinois finished significantly below its usual average of 84.7 points per game, their offense was effective enough to secure victory. Keaton Wagler also made notable contributions, scoring 13 points and grabbing 12 rebounds, while Andrej Stojakovic added another 13 points, impressively with his father, three-time NBA All-Star Peja Stojakovic, watching from the stands.
As the game drew to a close, many Houston fans exited the arena, leaving the Illinois supporters to revel in their team’s success. “I was proud of our kids’ effort,” Houston coach Kelvin Sampson stated. “We just didn’t play good enough.”
Illinois gained momentum early in the second half, sparking a 17-0 run that propelled them to a commanding 44-26 lead with approximately 12 minutes remaining. Key contributions during this stretch included Jake Davis, who scored five points, and Mirkovic and Ben Humrichous, who both hit consecutive three-pointers.
The Cougars went nearly seven minutes without scoring until Uzan finally broke the drought with a three-pointer at the 11:20 mark. “We were getting stops and limiting them to one shot, forcing them to take tough shots,” Wagler explained regarding the Illini’s defensive strategy. “We were able to grab the rebounds and create the offensive opportunities we wanted.”
Houston attempted to regain control with consecutive three-pointers from Chase McCarty, narrowing the gap to nine points with six minutes left. However, Illinois responded with three-pointers from Wagler and Tomislav Ivisic, leading to an 8-0 run that extended their lead to 58-41.
Wagler, recognized as the Big Ten Freshman of the Year, despite shooting 4 of 14 from the field, led the team in rebounds. He highlighted the importance of rebounding, particularly from the guards, stating, “Coaches emphasized before the game that we needed more than 10 rebounds from the guards. I took that challenge seriously.”
Uzan acknowledged the impact of Illinois’ guards on the rebounding game, noting, “That’s what hurt us, the defensive rebounding from their guards.”
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