CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (Chambana Today) — Andrej Stojakovic came off the bench and delivered the best game of his young Illinois career, scoring 23 points on 11-of-16 shooting to lift No. 14 Illinois past No. 11 Texas Tech, 81–77, before a sellout crowd of 15,544 Tuesday night at State Farm Center.
Stojakovic, the freshman transfer, was perfect from the field to start the game (5-for-5) and capped his night with a game-saving block on a potential game-tying three-point attempt by Texas Tech’s Christian Anderson with nine seconds left.
Kylan Boswell added 22 points and eclipsed 1,000 for his college career, while David Mirkovic, Zvonimir Ivisic, and Keaton Wagler each chipped in 11 as Illinois placed five scorers in double figures.
Illinois used an 11–0 run early in the first half to grab momentum and closed the frame on an 11–2 surge to lead 45–32 at halftime. The Illini maintained control thanks to dominant rebounding and bench play, outscoring the Red Raiders’ reserves 26–7 and turning 13 turnovers into 29 points.
Texas Tech clawed back within three in the final minute, but Wagler’s late free throw and Stojakovic’s block sealed the win — Illinois’ highest-ranked home victory since 2022.
The Illini (3–0) have now opened 3–0 for the fifth time under Underwood and extended their home winning streak to five games.
