The Illinois Fighting Illini men’s basketball team defeated the Iowa State Cyclones 72-69 in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament on Thursday at TD Garden.
Terrence Shannon Jr. led the Illini (29-8) with 29 points, marking their first Elite Eight appearance since 2005. Curtis Jones scored 26 for the Cyclones (29-8), falling short of their first March Madness regional final since 2000.
Illinois advances to face defending champion UConn (34-3) in the Elite Eight on Saturday at 5:09 p.m. CT, with the winner advancing to the Final Four in Glendale, Arizona.
How Illinois defeated Iowa State in Sweet 16:
Illinois’ top-ranked offense took an early lead with excellent ball movement and shooting. Despite Iowa State’s top-ranked defense, the Illini maintained a lead, with the game decided in the final 5 minutes.
Terrence Shannon Jr. and Luke Goode extended the lead with consecutive 3-pointers, sealing the victory with Shannon’s late-game steal and dunk.
Illinois basketball history: Illini in the Elite Eight:
The Illinois men’s basketball team has made nine Elite Eight appearances, with Coach Brad Underwood reaching his first Elite Eight in 11 seasons, including stints at Stephen F. Austin and Oklahoma State.
Illinois scoring leader Terrence Shannon Jr.:
Shannon, averaging 23.5 points per game this season, ranks third among all NCAA Division-I players. His postseason performance includes 102 points in the conference tournament and 85 points in three NCAA Tournament victories, placing him fourth in the Illini program’s history.
