Field Level Media
15 Nov 2025, 09:49 GMT+10
(Photo credit: Ron Johnson-Imagn Images)
Freshman forward David Mirkovic piled up 27 points and 21 rebounds to lead No. 14 Illinois to an 84-65 nonconference victory over Colgate on Friday night in Champaign, Ill.
In his fourth college game, Mirkovic produced the school's first 20-20 game since NBA first-round pick Nick Weatherspoon notched 37 points and 22 rebounds against DePauw on Dec. 2, 1972.
Keaton Wagler provided 19 points for Illinois (4-0) while Kylan Boswell contributed 11 points and four assists and Ben Humrichous scored 10 as Illinois prevailed despite shooting 11 of 37 from 3-point range.
Andrew Alekseyenko paced Colgate (1-3) with 21 points. Jalen Cox added 12 points, six rebounds and four assists.
While Illinois dominated the boards from the jump -- finishing with a 49-29 rebounding advantage -- the perpetual Patriot League contenders weren't fazed. The Raiders reeled off seven straight points to pull within 19-18 at the 8:35 mark as Cox sank a long jumper before Alekseyenko cashed a 3-pointer and a post move.
Humrichous and Wagler hit back-to-back 3-pointers to restore a 7-point lead, but Colgate forged a 28-28 tie with 4:01 left when Alekseyenko sank a pick-and-roll layup over 7-foot-2 Zvonimir Ivisic.
Then came the first half's biggest sequence. With the Illini clinging to a 31-28 lead, Andrej Stojakovic was fouled on a drive with 3:05 left and the teams went to their benches for a media timeout. During the break, Illinois asked for a review of Alekseyenko hitting Mirkovic in the face after jousting for a rebound -- and Alekseyenko was given a technical.
Stojakovic sank both ends of a 1-and-1, Mirkovic hit the two technical free throws and Boswell capped the 6-point possession with a lefty scoop to give Illinois a 37-28 working margin with 2:39 to go that turned into a 41-30 halftime lead.
Illinois didn't let Colgate back in the game in the second half as Mirkovic seized control. He drilled a 3-pointer on the half's first possession to complete his double-double, sank a layup on Illinois' next possession and racked up 11 points in the first seven minutes. His post-up and layup against Colgate's zone made it 59-40 with 13:28 to go.
Neither team shot particularly well -- the Illini hit only 26 of 69 shots (37.7%), while Colgate managed 26 of 62 (41.9%). However, the teams only committed a total of 12 turnovers -- seven for Illinois and five for Colgate.
Illinois played again without starting center Tomislav Ivisic, who has missed three games with a knee injury, and starting point guard Mihailo Petrovic, who has yet to play due to a hamstring issue.
--Field Level Media
Get a daily dose of Chicago Chronicle news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Chicago Chronicle.
More InformationNEW YORK CITY, New York: If you rely on premium rewards credit cards like the Chase Sapphire Reserve or Citi Strata Elite, your next...
NEW YORK, New York - U.S. stock markets closed out Friday's session with a mixed performance, as investors balanced ongoing rate expectations,...
NEW YORK CITY, New York: Two Hollywood icons are lending more than just their star power to artificial intelligence. Michael Caine...
JOHANNESBURG, South Africa: South Africa's largest mobile operator, Vodacom Group, has signed a deal with Elon Musk's Starlink to provide...
HOUSTON, Texas: Chevron announced on November 12 that it aims to grow free cash flow by more than 10 percent annually through 2030...
NEW YORK, New York - A powerful wave of selling swept through U.S. financial markets on Thursday, driving major stock indices sharply...
CHICAGO, Illinois: A Chicago jury has awarded US$28 million to the family of Shikha Garg, a United Nations consultant killed in the...
WASHINGTON, D.C.: Budget experts dismissed President Donald Trump's proposal to give Americans a US$2,000 tariff dividend, calling...
WASHINGTON, D.C.: The U.S. Senate on November 9 took a significant step toward ending the federal government shutdown, now in its 41st...
(Photo credit: Ron Johnson-Imagn Images) Freshman forward David Mirkovic piled up 27 points and 21 rebounds to lead No. 14 Illinois...
(Photo credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images) Powered by Rodney Rice's triple-double of 21 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists, Southern...
(Photo credit: Jordan Prather-Imagn Images) Mouhamed Dioubate scored 20 points on 8-of-9 shooting and collected 11 rebounds to help...
