Chambana Sun

The Illinois Fighting Illini secured a narrow victory over the Missouri Tigers with a final score of 80-77 in St. Louis, reclaiming the Braggin' Rights trophy. Kasparas Jakucionis played a pivotal role by making the decisive basket with just 28 seconds left on the clock.

Jakucionis led the game with 21 points, marking his sixth consecutive game scoring over 20 points. His performance included three successful three-pointers and an impeccable free-throw record, going eight-for-eight from the line. "Gave the Illini a 79-77 lead with his turnaround jumper with 28 seconds to go," as noted in postgame highlights.

Kylan Boswell contributed significantly to Illinois' win, scoring 16 points and achieving a new personal best with nine rebounds. Boswell also excelled at free throws, making 11 out of 12 attempts in the second half alone.

Tomislav Ivisic added to Illinois' efforts by recording his sixth double-double of the season with 11 points and ten rebounds. Despite fouling out late in the game, Tre White managed to add 13 points and eight rebounds for Illinois.

The team demonstrated their strength at the free-throw line by making an impressive 22 out of 23 attempts. They also dominated in rebounding, leading Missouri by a margin of twelve boards overall and securing crucial second-chance points.

Missouri initially took an early lead but was unable to maintain it as Illinois responded strongly throughout various stages of the match. The Tigers briefly regained control following an aggressive run in the second half; however, Illinois reclaimed their advantage through strategic plays including another critical basket from Jakucionis.

Illinois will return home for their final nonconference game against Chicago State on December 29th at State Farm Center.