Illinois defeats Northwestern 83-74 in rivalry clash

The Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball team rebounded from a previous loss to Maryland with an 83-74 victory over in-state rival Northwestern, marking their ninth consecutive win against the Wildcats at the State Farm Center. Kylan Boswell led Illinois with 17 points, while Morez Johnson Jr. contributed significantly with 15 points, 9 rebounds, and 3 blocks in his second career start. Illinois dominated the boards with a 50-27 rebounding advantage, even without their leading rebounder, Tomislav Ivisic, due to illness. Despite leading 43-21 at halftime, Illinois allowed Northwestern to score 53 points in the second half, highlighting areas for improvement, especially in managing turnovers that led to 24 points for the Wildcats. Northwestern was unable to overcome their struggles, particularly with key players Nick Martinelli and Brooks Barnhizer being held to just 20 points combined. The Illini's win was crucial to avoid a third consecutive home loss, a scenario they haven't faced since 2017.