Illini snuff Flames in final exhibition game

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Illinois didn’t need a comeback effort against UIC Wednesday night. The Illini picked up a 101-61 bounce-back win over the Flames to finish out its exhibition slate.

The shorthanded Illini were without Andrej Stojakovic and Zvonimir Ivisic, who were injured in the game against Baylor. Despite two top-scoring threats on the bench, Illinois didn’t miss a beat, hitting the 100-point mark while shooting 54.4% from the floor and 15-for-38 from beyond the arc. The Illini were led by Tomislav Ivisic, who ended the game with 14 points.

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“It’s not a secret to anybody,” said Stefan Vaaks. “We will score the ball.”

From the get-go, the Illini scored at will. They started the game on a 28-6 stretch, including a 10-0 run. Illinois also went on a 14-0 run later in the half to go up by 38 points. It slowed down in the second half, but still managed to score 42 in the half.

With limited depth, it was no surprise to see most of the freshmen getting playing time. However, those freshmen did more than just play; they were the leading force for the offense. Of the seven Illini in double figures, four of them were freshmen.

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“We see Ethan [Brown] and Quentin [Coleman], really every day, stuff the stat sheet,” said Brad Underwood. “That’s what we did tonight. It’s very consistent and very much a carryover to what they’re doing day in and day out.”

Quentin Coleman scored 10, making two of his four 3-point shots. Ethan Brown and Lincoln Williams were right there with him, scoring 12 and nine points, respectively. Zavier Zens and Lucas Morillo made their presence felt as well with 10 points each.

Coleman was a clear leader on offense, adding five assists to his 10 points. He also grabbed seven boards, once again flirting with a triple-double. Brown was an aggressive scoring threat, shooting 5-for-9 from the field and 2-for-6 from beyond the arc. He finished the game as the third-leading scorer behind Tomislav Ivisic and Jake Davis, who scored 12.

The freshmen…

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Publish date : 2026-10-29 02:05:00

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