By IlliniGuys Staff

February 4, 2026

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - Andrej Stojakovic led five Illinois players in double figures with 17 points as the 5th ranked Illini ran their win streak to 12 games in dominant fashion with an 84-44 rout of visiting Northwestern.

The 40-point win margin is just shy of the series record 99-57 drubbing Illinois handed the Wildcats in March of 1995.

Illinois (20-3, 11-1 in Big Ten) took the lead for good on a Jake Davis three-pointer that made the score 8-7. The Illini outscored Northwestern 39-12 the rest of the way with an onslaught of three-pointers. Illinois drained 11 treys in the first half, none more dramatic than Keaton Wagler's banked three-pointer that just beat the buzzer and carried the Illini to a 47-19 advantage.

Illinois built its lead to 79-30 before settling for the 40-point victory. Their defense was as impressive as their offense, holding Northwestern to just 29 percent shooting and only 4-of-25 from three-point range. Nick Martinelli, the nation's leading scorer at 23.7 points per game, managed just four points on 2-for-10 shooting. Northwestern (10-13, 2-11 in Big Ten) was led in scoring by Tre Singleton's 8 points.

Wagler finished with 13 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists and was one of six Illini to hit a three-pointer. Ben Humrichous and Zvonimir Ivisic both scored 13 off the bench while David Mirkovic posted his sixth straight double-digit game with 12 points. The Illini drained 17 three-pointers, one shy of the team record.

The win puts Illinois in first place by themselves in the Big Ten, a half-game ahead of Michigan. The 2nd ranked Wolverines host Penn State Wednesday night.

Illinois will next travel to East Lansing for a top ten showdown at 10th ranked Michigan State. The Spartans were upset at Minnesota 76-73 earlier this evening.

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