Live Game Thread, Updates for Illinois Basketball vs. UIC Exhibition

Illinois basketball will host UIC in an exhibition matchup Wednesday (7 p.m. CT, B1G+) at the State Farm Center in Champaign, Illinois. The Illini are 1-1 entering the last of their three exhibition games ahead of the 2026-27 regular season, having knocked off Cincinnati on the road and seen a furious comeback fall just short against Baylor last Friday.

Several projected starters will be missing from the Illinois lineup at tip off against the Flames, who are coming off a 19-16 season, a run to the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament championship game and an appearance in the NIT.

Preseason All-American forward David Mirkovic remains out as he recovers from offseason foot surgery, and swingman Andrej Stojakovic and forward Zvonimi Ivisic are on the shelf (mostly as a precaution) after both, separately, banged their heads on the court and exited the Baylor game early.

UIC coach Rob Eshan has built a roster featuring long, athletic swing players, allowing the Flames to attack one-on-one mismatches on offense and be switchy on defense. They will come up short – quite literally – against an Illini crew that has great size even in the absence of Ivisic (7-foot-3) and Mirkovic (6-foot-9), but they compete hard and are sneaky-effective on the glass.

Illinois vs. UIC live score updates

First half

Freshman guard Lincoln Williams gets the start with Andrej Stojakovic out, and he makes the most of it early. He opens the scoring with a bucket, and after a three from freshman guard Quentin Coleman and a putback dunk from fifth-year center Tomislav Ivisic, Williams connects from three. UIC calls timeout to regroup. Illinois leads 10-2

Coming out of the timeout, Lincoln Williams strikes first again. His layup is followed by a Quentin Coleman three. Freshman forward Zavier Zens, coming in off the bench, blows up a fastbreak with an excellent contest and comes back on the other end moments later to drain a three. After a steal-and-finish in transition from sophomore guard Stefan Vaaks and a bucket from freshman guard Ethan Brown, Zens scores again, this time on the break. The Illini are generating easy offense and dropping the hammer on D. Flames need another timeout. Illinois leads 24-6

After a pair of free throws from Tomislav Ivisic, the Flames outhustle the Illini and scramble for multiple offensive rebounds. A sloppy Illinois possession on the other end takes us into a media timeout. Brad Underwood probably welcomes it. Illinois leads 26-6

Flames forward Dikembe Shaw corner three. Quentin Coleman shifts the UIC defense with a sweet crossover and easy dish to Ethan Brown, who sinks his own corner three. Following a fastbreak layup from Flames guard Elijah Garrett, junior center Jason Jakstys two-hands a jam off a Quentin Coleman dish, then comes back a possess later to float in another bucket with 8:26 left in the half. Illinois leads 38-14

Brad Underwood goes deep, bringing in some reserves who may not see big minutes in the regular season. Fresman guard Lucas Morillo enters and cans a three. Sophomore guard Blake Fagbemi checks in and delivers a nice drive and dish for an open attempt that just misses. A Jake Davis fastbreak layup, a three and a layup from Stefan Vaaks and a dunk from Tomislav Ivisic balloon the lead before another media timeout. Everything is free and easy for the home team. WIth 4:27 left before the break, the now have 18 assists on 20 made field goals. Illinois leads 50-14

Quentin Coleman cleans up at the free-throw line with four gimmes before Flames forward Jayce Nathaniel finds an opening to spot up and knock down a three at the buzzer, giving UIC something positive headed into halftime. Coleman leads the Illini with 15 points, five rebounds and three assists. UIC guard Mekhi Lowery has been made to work for every bucket, but he has a team-high eight on 4-for-5 shooting. Illinois leads 59-24

Second half

Rashund Washington Jr. opens the second-half scoring with a layup, but Illinois gets a Tomislav Ivisic dunk sandwiched between Jake Davis threes, followed by a layup from Ethan Brown. The Illini are just battering the Flames with size and phsyicality. UIC is a mid-major MVC program, but Illinois' effectiveness on D in this final exhibition would seem to be a good sign. Illinois leads 69-26

A gorgeously executed 2-on-1 between Quentin Coleman and Jake Davis ends in a Davis finish, but the Flames do them one – and then some – better on the other end: Rashund Washington Jr. finds a runway and makes the play of the game with a soaring one-handed dunk against a Coleman contest. It's a rare flex from UIC. Illinois leads 71-28

The Flames finally get loose and go on a run. Elijah Garrett converts an and-one before Lucas Scroggins converts a layup. Ethan gets a bucket back with his own layup on the other end, but after a Stefan Vaaks rim attack gets sent back by UIC guard Mekhi Lowery, Scroggins scores again off the resulting transition. The Flames cut the Illini edge to – gulp! – 41. Illinois leads 76-35

Zavier Zens sinks a corner three before the Illini defense starts to crumble. UIC goes on a 13-3 run that includes two dunks and a soaring reverse alley-oop. Illinois' early-game resistance has turned into a platform for an NBA Slam Dunk Contest. Sure, the Illini are up by 34 and playing a load of freshman, but when the media timeout arrives, Brad Underwood let's his guys have it. Illinois leads 82-48

Mekhi Lowery connects on a short jumper to extend UIC's run to 15-3. A pair of Lucas Morillo free throws and a Zavier Zens layup off a delicious dish from Stefan Vaaks stops the (barely perceptible) bleeding. Illinois leads 86-50

Illinois follows a pair of buckets from UIC's Ahmad Henderson II with more Lucas Morillo free throws and, in a sight that lifted the State Farm Center crowd, a corner three from Blake Fagbemi (who isn't likely to get much regular-season burn). Illinois leads 92-55

At 2:24, Blake Fagbemi strikes again! A three from the wing. Illinois leads 95-57

UIC's Mario Wooden Jr., who didn't check into the game until the final minutes, is suddnely cooking. After a layup, a tip-in and a three, he goes to the line for free throws. Nine points in three minutes. That's efficiency, ladies and gentlemen. Illinois leads 99-64

Freshman forward Landon Davis lays one in to push the Illini over the century mark, and Flames guard Elijah Garrett closes out the scoring with his own finish at the rim. A productive, if not perfect, evening for the Illini at the State Farm Center. Illinois wins 101-66

Illinois vs. UIC stories

• How to Watch Illinois vs. UIC
• 3 Areas to Watch Against UIC
• Brad Underwood Updates Injury Status of Five Illinois Players Before UIC Exhibition

• Even an Exhibition – Illinois vs. UIC – Reminds What Makes College Basketball Special

Projected starting lineups

Illinois

G: Quentin Coleman
G: Ethan Brown
G: Lincoln Williams
F: Jake Davis
C: Tomislav Ivisic

UIC

G: Ahmad Henderson II
G: Elijah Garrett
G: Rashund Washington Jr.
G: Mekhi Lowery
F: Jayce Nathaniel

Add us as a preferred source on Google