Illinois Bullies Its Way Past Iowa and Into First Final Four Since 2005

HOUSTON — For 21 years the Illinois Fighting Illini waited for a return trip to the Final Four, and on Saturday night at Toyota Center they finally punched their ticket the only way this group knows how: by owning the paint, owning the glass, and daring anyone to match their sheer size.

No. 3 seed Illinois shook off a frigid 3-for-17 night from beyond the arc, erased an early nine-point deficit, and steam-rolled No. 9 Iowa inside to claim a 71-59 victory in the South Regional final. The win sends the Illini (28-8) to Indianapolis and the program’s first national semifinal since 2005.

“We kept chopping wood,” Illini coach Ben McCollum said, crediting his team’s persistence after Iowa’s hot start. “When the threes don’t fall, you’ve got to find another way.”

The Hawkeyes (24-13) looked poised for another March stunner when Bennett Stirtz poured in 15 first-half points and Iowa led 32-28 at the break. Illinois countered with a steady diet of second chances, corralling 10 offensive rebounds before halftime and finishing the night with a 16-8 edge on the offensive glass.

Keaton Wagler shook off early foul trouble to score 14, while Andrej Stojakovic added 17 and repeatedly broke down Iowa’s help defense off the dribble. Yet the night belonged to Illinois’ twin-tower tandem of Tomislav and Zvonimir Ivisic and 6-foot-9 bruiser David Mirkovic. The trio combined for 22 points, four blocks and a 40-12 domination of the paint that turned the game in the second half.

The decisive stretch came with just under seven minutes remaining and Illinois clinging to a 55-54 lead. Tomislav Ivisic caught on the left block on back-to-back possessions, sealed a smaller defender, and spun into the lane for consecutive baby hooks that pushed the margin to five and forced Iowa into desperation mode. A Stojakovic layup and six straight free throws from Wagler and Kylan Boswell capped an 8-0 burst that finally put Iowa away.

Stirtz finished with a game-high 24, but managed only nine after halftime as Illinois’ length closed every driving lane. The Hawkeyes shot 34 percent for the game and were out-scored 43-27 in the final 20 minutes.

“Defense has been our identity all tournament,” said forward Ben Humrichous, part of a rotation that limited Iowa to one field goal over the final 6:42. “When we’re locked in, we feel like no one can score on us.”

The Illini will carry that confidence into next Saturday’s national semifinal against the winner of Sunday’s Duke-UConn regional final. For a program that has waited two decades for another shot at a title, the road now runs through Indianapolis.

Illinois 71, Iowa 59 — and the biggest roster in college basketball is still standing.

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