By IlliniGuys Staff

January 24, 2026

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Freshman Keaton Wagler scored a career-high 46 points as 11th ranked Illinois rallied from a double-digit digit to stun No. 4 Purdue 88-82 Saturday afternoon.

The 6-foot-6 guard, already fast becoming the favorite to win Big Ten Freshman of the Year honors, made a case to be a first-time all-conference pick as he drained a school-record nine three-pointers. That's also the most treys hit by a Mackey Arena visitor and the 46 points ties Andy Kaufmann's mark for the second-most points in a game by an Illini, only behind the 53 points scored by Dave Downey against Indiana.

Wagler provided all of the Illinois offense from the opening tip, scoring the Illini's first 14 points, his fourth three-pointer pulling Illinois within 16-14. Purdue saw its lead swell to as much as 11 points at 25-24 before Illinois began to claw its way back to close within 43-39 at halftime. Wagler had 24 points at the break to already eclipse his previous career-high of 23 points scored at Ohio State on December 9th.

Wagler then scored the first five points of the second half to give Illinois its first lead since the opening minute at 44-43. He finished 9-of-11 from the three-point arc, including draining all three attempts after halftime.

Fellow freshman David Mirkovic was questionable to play, but scored 12 points and grabbed 8 rebounds in 28 minutes of action. Starting center Tomislav Ivisic scored just 7 points, all coming in the final four minutes as the Illini outscored the Boilers 19-9 down the stretch. Illinois hitting four three-pointers in a row during that decisive run, including a pair of them by Ivisic as Illinois tied a school-record with 18 made three-pointers.

Illinois (17-3, 8-1 in Big Ten) stays in second place and within a game of conference leader Nebraska, which won at Minnesota earlier in the day. The Illini have now won nine straight since that buzzer-beating home loss to the Cornhuskers back on December 13th. That's the program's longest run since starting the 2012-13 season with 12 consecutive wins.

Purdue (17-3, 7-2 in Big Ten) was led by All-American Braden Smith's 27 points and 12 assists.

The victory is the 100th Big Ten win for Brad Underwood, who joins Lou Henson and Harry Combes as the only other Illini coaches to reach that milestone.

Illinois returns home to face Washington Thursday night (8pm CT, FS1).

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