Illinois Falls to Top-Ranked Tennessee

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Illinois fell to No. 1 Tennessee, 66-64, at State Farm Center on Saturday evening.

The Fighting Illini made a free throw to tie the game at 64 with five seconds remaining before the top-ranked Volunteers scored the game-winning basket as time expired to secure the road win.

The contest featured 14 ties and 13 lead changes in the back-and-forth battle.

Kasparas Jakucionis surpassed the 20-point mark for the fifth-straight game, finishing with 22 points, three rebounds, two assists, and one steal.

Tre White recorded 11 points, his fourth outing of the season in double figures.

Kylan Boswell and Will Riley both tallied 10 points, with Boswell also grabbing seven rebounds and making a steal. Riley corralled five boards.

Illinois is back in action next weekend for the annual McBride Homes Braggin’ Rights matchup against Missouri at Enterprise Center in St. Louis. The opening tip between the Fighting Illini and the Tigers is slated for Dec. 22 at 12 p.m. CT on ESPN.

HIGHLIGHTS

PRESS CONFERENCE

POSTGAME NOTES

Player Notes:

• Kasparas Jakucionis scored 22 points to go along with three rebounds and two assists.

  • Joins Will Riley as the first Illini freshmen to score 10+ points against a top-ranked opponent since Jereme Richmond scored 18 vs. No. 1 Ohio State (1/22/2011).
  • Extends his Illinois freshman record as the only rookie in program history with five consecutive 20-point games. 
  • Has knocked down multiple 3-pointers in each of the last five games.

• Tre White scored 11 points and added two rebounds and an assist.

  • Has scored in double figures in four games this season.

• Will Riley scored 10 points and grabbed five rebounds.

  • Joins Kasparas Jakucionis as the first Illini freshmen to score 10+ points against a top-ranked opponent since Jereme Richmond scored 18 vs. No. 1 Ohio State (1/22/2011).

• Kylan Boswell scored 10 points while adding seven rebounds.

  • Has scored in double figures in five games and in three of his last four overall.

• Tomislav Ivisic scored four points and secured 12 rebounds.

  • Has grabbed 10+ rebounds in five straight games and in seven contests overall.