Tennessee Rallies to Defeat Illinois 66-64

In a thrilling contest, No. 1 Tennessee narrowly defeated Illinois 66-64, with Jordan Gainey scoring a buzzer-beater to secure the victory. Gainey finished with a career-high 23 points, while Illinois was led by Kasparas Jakucionis, who scored 22 but struggled with turnovers in the final minutes. Despite Illinois' early lead and strong free-throw performance, they lost the rebounding battle for the first time this season and missed critical shots down the stretch. This win marks Tennessee's 10th consecutive victory, a feat not achieved in 25 years. The Illini, who have now lost 23 times to No. 1-ranked teams, will seek redemption against Missouri next weekend. Coach Brad Underwood noted the need for better late-game execution following the loss.