Share and Follow
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA) — On a night celebrating one of the best to ever wear the orange and blue, Illinois outlasted a conference foe for an important resume win.
Illinois hosted UCLA for the first time as conference opponents and for the first time since a 2022 neutral site win. Playing for the Bruins was Skyy Clark, a former Illini who transferred to UCLA after a stop in Louisville.
Kasparas Jakucionis finished with 24 points for the second-straight game, 17 of which came in the second half. He was joined by Tomislav Ivisic, Will Riley and Kylan Boswell in double-digit scoring.
At halftime, Illinois led by just six but fought to as much as a 16-point lead in the second half. UCLA answered with a 13-0 run to cut into that lead, but with free-throw shooting, Illinois held out for an 83-78 win.
It was a sellout crowd to celebrate former Illini great Kofi Cockburn, whose jersey was honored at halftime. The two-time Big Ten champion is the school’s rebounding and scoring leader among three-year players.
Illinois is back in action on Saturday, February 15, hosting No. 11 Michigan State.