SPORTS

Illinois Dominates Penn 105-70, Advances to Second Round

PUBLISHED Mar 20, 2026, 1:23 AM ET

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GREENVILLE, S.C., Illinois routed Penn 105-70 Thursday in the NCAA Tournament, propelled by freshman David Mirković’s 29 points and 17 rebounds. Keaton Wagler added 18 points, seven assists and seven rebounds as the third-seeded Illini turned a 10-point halftime lead into a dominant second half. Illinois shot 41.7% on 3-pointers and scored 60 points after intermission to overwhelm Penn, which attempted only two free throws. Illinois (25-8) advances to face No. 11 VCU on Saturday night. Game statistics, coach and player comments, social-media reactions and official box scores independently corroborated the outcome. Based on 7 articles reviewed and supporting research.

By Lauren Mitchell | JQJO News

Timeline of Events

Regular season ends: Illinois (25-8), Penn (18-12).
Tournament seeding places Illinois as No. 3 and Penn as No. 14 in East Region.
Thursday first-round game in Greenville: Illinois leads 40-30 at halftime.
Second half: Illinois scores 60 points; final score 105-70 in favor of Illinois.
Illinois advances to face No. 11 VCU in the second round on Saturday.

News Intelligence

If you're an Illinois fan, this win is a big deal. It shows the team's strength and potential. The standout performance by freshman David Mirković is especially exciting. It's worth checking out Saturday's game against VCU.

Media Bias

Articles Published:: 11
Right Leaning:: 0
Left Leaning:: 0
Neutral:: 11

Who Benefited

The University of Illinois men's basketball program benefited directly: the team's win advanced them in the NCAA Tournament, elevated player profiles (notably David Mirković and Keaton Wagler), and provided momentum and favorable media exposure heading into the second-round matchup with VCU.

Who Impacted

The University of Pennsylvania men's basketball program suffered reputational and competitive setbacks: the Quakers exited the NCAA Tournament after a lopsided loss, saw limited offensive and free-throw opportunities in the game, and will need to regroup following the program's early exit.

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