HOUSTON — No. 3 Illinois defeated No. 9 Iowa 71-59 in the Elite Eight on Saturday night, advancing to the Final Four for the first time since 2005.
Freshman Keaton Wagler scored 25 points to lead the Fighting Illini, who pulled away in the second half at the Toyota Center. Illinois outscored Iowa 43-27 after halftime, holding the Hawkeyes to 23 percent shooting in the final period. The victory sends Illinois to the national semifinals in Indianapolis, ending a 21-year drought since its last Final Four appearance as national runner-up in 2005.
The game remained competitive in the first half, with Iowa leading 32-28 at the break. Illinois responded with a stronger defensive effort and controlled the rebounding battle, grabbing 16 offensive rebounds. Coach Brad Underwood's team improved to 28-8 on the season. Iowa, which had advanced as a lower seed with several upsets, finished its Cinderella run at 24-13.
Illinois reached the Elite Eight after defeating No. 14 seed in the first round, followed by wins over higher-seeded opponents in subsequent rounds, including a victory over No. 2 Houston in the Sweet 16. The matchup against fellow Big Ten member Iowa marked the latest chapter in the conference's strong showing in the 2026 NCAA tournament.
The win marks Underwood's first trip to the Final Four in his tenure at Illinois. The program last reached the national semifinals under coach Bruce Weber in 2005. Illinois will face the winner of another regional final in the Final Four on April 4 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
As of Sunday, preparations continued for the national semifinals. The NCAA tournament proceeded with additional Elite Eight games determining the remaining Final Four teams. Illinois became the first squad to secure a spot in this year's national semifinals.
