By IlliniGuys Staff

December 10, 2024

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - Just nine games into his collegiate career, Kasparas Jakucionis is making his bid to become the greatest freshman in Illini history.

The Lithuanian import was already the first Illinois freshman to score 20 or more points in three consecutive games, but added to his record streak with a game-high and career-best 24 as Illinois upset 20th ranked Wisconsin 86-80 Tuesday night.

The win keeps Illinois (7-2, 1-1 in Big Ten conference) from starting 0-2 in league play and keeps the Badgers winless at State Farm Center since 2019 and runs the Illini win streak in the series to nine games.

Tre White scored a season-high 23 points, 14 of them in the first half when the junior led the Illini to a 39-35 lead. "Tre is fantastic. that's what he's been doing in practice.  He's been terrific", Illinois head coach Brad Underwood said on the WDWS radio postgame broadcast.

Illinois showed a much stronger effort on the boards, grabbing as many defensive rebounds (25) as Wisconsin had total rebounds (29) as they finished plus-11 in that category overall. Tomislav Ivisic grabbed 11, White eight, and Jakucionis added six rebounds.

"That's the type of effort that our teams have always had here", said Underwood. "You have to find ways to win when the ball doesn't go in."

Kylan Boswell also put up a season high with 19 points, including four free throws late as the Illini drained 10 of 11 attempts at the line in the final 90 seconds to secure the win.

Every point was needed as Illinois committed its seventh foul at the 14:41 mark of the second half, putting Wisconsin in the bonus. The Badgers hit 11 of 16 free throws the rest of the way to stay in the game.

"That's where this team has to grow and mature", said Underwood. "We can't commit silly fouls."

Nolan Winter led Wisconsin (8-3, 0-2) with 15 points.

Jakucionis scored 14 of his points in the second half. After Boswell hit three field goals in a row to give Illinois the lead for good, the 6-foot-6 guard went on a personal 7-0 scoring run and later converted a four-point play to give the Illini a 70-60 lead.

Underwood is waiting for the national media to show his European star some love. "He gets no attention around the country. They talk about every other freshman around the country and they can keep talking", Underwood lamented.

Illinois now readies to host top ranked Tennessee on Saturday (4:30pm, FOX).

Stay with IlliniGuys.com for complete postgame coverage.