SPORTS

Illinois defeats Houston 65-55, advances to Elite Eight

PUBLISHED Mar 26, 2026, 12:34 AM ET

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HOUSTON — Illinois defeated No. 2 seed Houston 65-55 Thursday night at the Toyota Center, advancing to the NCAA Tournament Elite Eight after a 17-0 second-half run and balanced contributions from David Mirkovic and Keaton Wagler. The win, achieved with Illinois holding a rebounding edge and limiting Houston to about 34% shooting, sends the Illini to face No. 9 seed Iowa on Saturday; coaches cited defense and interior play as decisive elements.

By Adyan K. | JQJO News

Aggregated From:

CBS Sports Beckley Register-Herald

Timeline of Events

Regular season and conference play concluded, determining NCAA tournament seeding.
Illinois defeated Penn and VCU to reach the Sweet 16.
Thursday night: Illinois beat Houston 65-55 at the Toyota Center in Houston.
Illinois opened the second half with a 17-0 run to build separation.
Saturday: Illinois is scheduled to play Iowa in the Elite Eight.

News Intelligence

If you're a fan of college basketball, Illinois' win is big news. It shows that teamwork and good defense can lead to victory, even against higher-ranked teams. If you're an Illini supporter, it's time to celebrate and gear up for the Elite Eight match against Iowa.

Media Bias

Articles Published:: 12
Right Leaning:: 0
Left Leaning:: 0
Neutral:: 12
Distribution:: Left 0%, Center 100%, Right 0%

Who Benefited

Illinois basketball program, its players—particularly Keaton Wagler and David Mirkovic—coaches, and fans benefited immediately by advancing to the Elite Eight, improving momentum and national visibility.

Who Impacted

Houston, its players including Kingston Flemings, coaching staff and local fans suffered a setback from offensive struggles and elimination from the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16.