Illinois surged late to beat No. 18 Purdue with a thrilling performance that showcased their resilience. Kasparas Jakucionis appeared poised to drive to the basket as he expertly dribbled through his legs on the right wing. In a surprising twist, the Lithuanian guard stepped back and launched a 3-pointer. Despite Purdue’s Caleb Furst having his hand in Jakucionis’ face, the 6-foot-10 forward made the shot, breaking a tie with just 40 seconds left. This pivotal moment allowed Illinois to take the lead for good, ultimately defeating Purdue 88-80 on Friday night.
Before this clutch moment, Jakucionis struggled, shooting only 2-for-9. However, his teammates stepped up, with freshman Will Riley scoring 22 points and junior Tre White contributing 20 points along with nine rebounds. Jakucionis also led the team with seven assists, proving his value beyond scoring.
Jakucionis connected with Ben Humrichous for a crucial 3-pointer that put Illinois ahead 67-66 with 7:39 left in the game. White followed suit with another three-pointer, extending the Illini’s lead. However, Purdue responded with an 11-2 run, taking a 77-72 lead with just 2:52 remaining. White’s layup and Humrichous’ subsequent three-pointer and free throw tied the game, setting the stage for Jakucionis’ decisive shot.
With this victory, Illinois improved to 20-11 overall and 12-8 in the Big Ten, marking their third consecutive win after a three-game losing streak. Purdue, now at 21-10 and 13-7 in the conference, lost a chance to secure a double-bye in the upcoming Big Ten Tournament.
Purdue’s Trey Kaufman-Renn was a standout, scoring 29 points, including six crucial points during a key stretch that propelled his team ahead. This marked his second game in three outings with 29 points, and he has averaged 22.1 points over his last ten games. Notably, he also achieved his 1,000th career point with a floater from the free-throw line in the first half.
Guard Braden Smith contributed significantly with 18 points, 12 assists, and nine rebounds, falling just short of becoming the second player in team history to record a triple-double.
Takeaways
Illinois has joined elite company, becoming one of only four teams in the nation—alongside Gonzaga, Houston, and San Diego State—to achieve at least 20 regular-season wins for six consecutive years.
For Purdue, Smith is a strong contender for Big Ten Player of the Year, while Kaufman-Renn’s scoring prowess makes him a vital asset as the team’s primary inside threat.
Key moment
Riley’s 3-pointer at the first-half buzzer capped off a personal seven-point run, bringing Illinois within two at 42-40.
Key stat
In their previous meeting, the teams combined for 32 three-pointers, with Purdue hitting 18. This time, however, Purdue focused on inside scoring, outpacing Illinois 44-28 in the paint while shooting just 5 of 18 from beyond the arc. Illinois, in contrast, made 11 of 30 three-point attempts.
Up next
Both teams are set to begin play in the Big Ten Tournament on Thursday.
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