PHILADELPHIA – In a tightly contested game at The Palestra, Penn State basketball found itself on the losing end despite outscoring Illinois in the second half. The Fighting Illini managed to secure a 73-65 victory, maintaining their lead throughout the contest.

Kylan Boswell was the standout performer for Illinois, scoring a game-high 18 points. He was joined by three other players who reached double figures: David Mirkovic with 13 points and 10 rebounds, Keaton Wagler with 16 points, 3 assists, and 3 rebounds. On the other side, Eli Rice led Penn State with 11 points, though he struggled from beyond the arc, making just 2 of 7 three-pointers. Kayden Mingo contributed 16 points and 5 assists, while Freddie Dilione V added 9 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 assists in his second start of the season.

Start the day smarter. Get all the news you need in your inbox each morning.

One of the most striking aspects of the game was the free-throw disparity between the two teams. Illinois shot an impressive 23-of-28 from the free-throw line, drawing 26 fouls in the process. In contrast, Penn State had only 14 free-throw attempts and drew just 17 fouls. Despite this, Penn State managed to outscore Illinois 39-33 in the second half, cutting the deficit to single digits multiple times. However, Illinois consistently responded, maintaining their lead until the final buzzer.

With the loss, Penn State fell to 9-5 on the season and 0-3 in Big Ten play. Illinois, on the other hand, improved to 11-3 overall and 2-1 in conference action.

Key Moments from the Game

• Second Half Dominance: Penn State showed strong performance in the second half, outscoring Illinois 39-33. However, they were unable to close the gap enough to take the lead.
• Free-Throw Disparity: Illinois’ superior free-throw shooting played a significant role in their victory, as they made 23 of 28 attempts compared to Penn State’s 14 makes.
• Penn State’s Struggles: The Nittany Lions faced challenges in both their half-court offense and paint defense, which limited their ability to make a serious run.

Game Highlights

• 7:20 2H: Illinois led 57-49 after Penn State cut the deficit to 8 points with layups from Tibor Mirtic and Sasa Ciani.
• 12:05 2H: Illinois maintained a 53-39 lead.
• 15:27 2H: Illinois held a 48-37 advantage as Penn State briefly reduced the gap to single digits before David Mirkovic scored a putback layup.
• First Half: Illinois took control early, leading 40-26 at halftime. Penn State struggled to contain Illinois’ size and rebounding dominance, though they led in offensive rebounds (7-6).

Pregame Notes

Illinois started the game with a strong 7-0 run, and Eli Rice eventually answered with a three-pointer. Penn State attempted to disrupt Illinois’ post entry passes, even employing some double teams. However, Illinois continued to dominate inside the paint, scoring 10 points in the first five minutes.

Starting Lineups

Illinois Starters:
– Andrej Stojakovic
– Kylan Boswell
– Keaton Wagler
– David Mirkovic
– Tomislav Ivisic

Game Broadcast Information

• TV Channel: Big Ten Network
• Livestream: None
• Radio: Penn State Sports Network
• National Radio: SiriusXM Ch. 84

The game was broadcast on the Big Ten Network for Penn State’s third conference game of the season. Cory Provus and LaPhonso Ellis called the action from The Palestra. There was no live stream available for the game.

Game Details

• Date: Saturday, Jan. 3
• Start Time: 7 p.m. ET