HOUSTON — Freshman Keaton Wagler scored 25 factors and Illinois ended Iowa’s underdog March Madness run by dominating within the frontcourt, beating the Hawkeyes 71-59 on Saturday to advance to the Final Four for the first time since 2005.
This would be the sixth journey to the Final Four for Illinois, which has by no means gained a nationwide title. The Fighting Illini will face both Duke or UConn subsequent weekend in Indianapolis.
The a lot taller Illini (28-8) outrebounded Iowa 38-21 within the South Region ultimate. David Mirkovic led the best way with 12 rebounds.
Coach Brad Underwood’s emphasis on recruiting in Eastern Europe has paid off on this match. Tomislav Ivisic of Croatia, who stands 7-foot-1, and his 7-2 twin brother Zvonimir have shined in March.
Andrej Stojakovic, who was born in Greece however whose father is Serbian three-time NBA All-Star Peja Stojakovic, scored 17 factors for third-seeded Illinois. His well-known father watched proudly as his son punched his ticket to the Final Four, and Wagler’s mother and father — who met once they performed basketball at a junior faculty in Kansas — cheered wildly all through for his or her son, who was named MVP of the area.
Bennett Stirtz scored 24 factors for the ninth-seeded Hawkeyes (24-13), who knocked off top-seeded Florida within the second spherical as a part of a formidable run below first-year coach Ben McCollum, a four-time Division II nationwide champion at Northwest Missouri State. Stirtz performed for McCollum there, then adopted him to Drake and eventually Iowa.
The Illini went on an 8-0 run, with 4 factors from Tomislav Ivisic, to take a 58-51 lead with lower than 5 minutes remaining.
Isaia Howard made certainly one of two free throws for Iowa after that, however an alley-oop dunk by Zvonimir Ivisic pushed the lead to 60-52 with about 4 minutes to go.
Sage Tate hit 4 consecutive free throws for Iowa to get the Hawkeyes inside 4 with two minutes to go. But Stojakovic added a layup for Illinois earlier than Wagler made two free throws to make it 67-59.
It was the second assembly this season for these Big Ten rivals. Illinois gained 75-69 on Jan. 11.
Illinois by no means led within the first half however took its first lead simply after halftime. There had been a dozen lead modifications earlier than the Illini pulled away.
