Mirkovic's 27 points and 21 rebounds carry No. 14 Illinois to 84-65 win
over Colgate
[November 15, 2025]
By STEVE STEIN
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) — David Mirkovic scored 27 points,
19 in the second half, and grabbed 21 rebounds Friday night as No. 14
Illinois stayed undefeated with an 84-65 victory over Colgate.
Mirkovic, a 6-foot-9 freshman from Montenegro, became the first Illinois
player to have 20 points and 20 rebounds in a game since Nick
Weatherspoon in 1972. |
Illinois' Kylan Boswell (4) goes up for a shot against Colgate's Ethan
Brown (0) and Ayomi Odetoyinbo (15) during the first half of an NCAA
basketball game Friday, Nov. 14, 2025, in Champaign, Ill. (AP Photo/Paul
Beaty) |
|
Keagon Wagler added 19 points and six rebounds and Kylan Boswell
scored 11 for the Fighting Illini (4-0), who outrebounded
Colgate 49-29 and had 22 offensive boards that led to 22
second-chance points.
Boswell, a senior, has 1,012 career points — 504 at Illinois and
508 at Arizona. The Champaign native scored his 1,000th point
Tuesday in the Illini’s win over No. 11 Texas Tech.
Alex Alekseyenko had 21 points for Colgate (1-3) and Jalen Cox
added 12. Both pulled down six rebounds.
New Illinois assistant coach and defensive coordinator Camryn
Crocker was an assistant the past three seasons at Colgate.
Illinois led 41-30 at halftime, outscoring the Raiders 13-2 in
the final four minutes.
A nine-point run by Illinois that included a six-point
possession followed a 28-all tie. After the Illini made four
free throws, two on a fragrant foul, Boswell sank a layup to
complete the six-point trip.
Illinois will play three ranked teams on neutral courts in a
17-day stretch that starts Wednesday, when the Illini face No. 8
Alabama at their home away from home, the United Center in
Chicago.
No. 3 UConn (Nov. 28 at Madison Square Garden) and No. 20
Tennessee (Dec. 6 at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville) are
Illinois’ other ranked opponents during the stretch, which
includes two home games against unranked teams.
Up next
Colgate: Plays at Siena on Monday night, the second of six
straight road games.
Illinois: Will face No. 8 Alabama on Wednesday night at the
United Center in Chicago.
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