Champaign, Ill. (Chambana Today) — No. 8 Illinois turned a slow first five minutes into a full-scale demolition on Saturday afternoon, overwhelming Long Island 98–58 at State Farm Center. The Illini (5–1) erupted for a 47–11 close to the first half, shot 63.1% overall—one of the best marks of the Brad Underwood era—and extended their home dominance over unranked nonconference opponents to 34 straight games.
Andrej Stojakovic spearheaded the offensive onslaught with 20 points on 10-for-15 shooting, marking his third 20-point game of the season. Freshman standout Keaton Wagler added 19 points on an efficient 7-for-10 night, continuing a blazing start to his college career with his fifth double-figure scoring effort in six outings.
Illinois’ defensive energy triggered the avalanche. After briefly trailing 8–7, the Illini held LIU without a field goal for five minutes and ripped off a 19–2 run to seize control. By halftime, Illinois had built a 54–20 advantage, powered by a 69% shooting performance in the opening period.
The knockout blow came across halftime, when Illinois strung together 24 unanswered points—its largest run of the season—stretching the lead from 38–19 to a staggering 62–19.
Zvonimir Ivisic delivered a disruptive defensive performance with four blocks and three steals, tying his career high in takeaways. He added eight points and four rebounds, while brother Tomislav Ivisic chipped in nine points, four boards and two assists in a return to the starting lineup.
Kylan Boswell extended his double-figure scoring streak to 14 games with 11 points, while David Mirkovic provided muscle inside with 12 points and a team-best eight rebounds, continuing his run of leading the Illini on the glass in five of six games this season.
The afternoon also featured a milestone moment: freshman Brandon Lee made his collegiate debut, scoring his first bucket early in the second half.
Illinois, averaging 95.8 points per game, has now opened a season with six consecutive 80-point outings for the first time since the famed 1988–89 Flyin’ Illini.
