CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Freshman David Mirkovic recorded a remarkable 27 points and 21 rebounds as the Illinois Fighting Illini defeated the Colgate Raiders,securing their fourth consecutiveโฃ victory.
Illinois overcame a slowโฃ start โoffensively, initially struggling from beyond โขthe arc, going 1-for-9 โคearly in the game. A late first-half โrun, fueled by eight made free throws, gave the Illini a pleasant lead heading into halftime. While shooting remained a โchallenge for Illinois in the second half, Mirkovic’s dominant performance propelled them โto โvictory. He scored 19 points, grabbedโค 11 rebounds, andโ dished outโ 2 assists in the second half alone. “It was the same as the first half,” Mirkovic said postgame. “I just got lost in โthe game.It came naturally.”
Keaton โคWagler added 19 points and 6 rebounds for Illinois.Colgate was โled by Andrew Alekseyenko with 21 points and โค6 rebounds, and Jalen Cox contributedโข 12 points and 5 rebounds.
Illinois played without tomislav Ivisic,โข Mihailo Petrovic, and Brandon Lee due to injury. theโข Illini will next face Alabama at the United Center in Chicago on โWednesday, โNovember 19th at 8:00 p.m.
