No. 3 Illinois Erupts for 108 Points in Victory Over Sam Houston

S³ NCAA MEN'S BASKETBALL COVERAGE | NOVEMBER 13, 2026

FINAL | STATE FARM CENTER

The third-ranked Illinois Fighting Illini delivered an offensive showcase Friday night, defeating Sam Houston by 22 points in a high-scoring contest at the State Farm Center.

Illinois shot 53% from the field, connected on 15 three-pointers and distributed 23 assists while committing just six turnovers.

Tomislav Ivisic led the Fighting Illini with 28 points, while Andrej Stojakovic added 26. Together, they accounted for half of Illinois' 108 points.

Sam Houston produced a respectable offensive performance, scoring 86 points and connecting on 14 three-pointers. But the Bearkats couldn't match Illinois' efficiency, transition scoring or defensive activity.

Illinois' Offense Was Nearly Unstoppable

53% Field goals | 23 Assists | 6 Turnovers

Illinois attempted 75 field goals and converted 40, including 15 of 39 from beyond the arc.

What made the performance particularly impressive was the team's offensive efficiency. Illinois recorded nearly four assists for every turnover, demonstrating strong ball movement and disciplined possession management.

The Fighting Illini also scored 50 points in the paint and 23 on fast breaks, proving they weren't dependent exclusively on perimeter shooting.

S³ Player Spotlight

ILLINOIS | LEADING SCORER

Tomislav Ivisic

28 PTS
10–21 FG | 22 minutes

Ivisic delivered a high-impact scoring performance, finishing with 28 points in just 22 minutes. His perimeter shooting featured prominently in the highlights, including multiple three-pointers that helped Illinois maintain its offensive momentum.

ILLINOIS | OFFENSIVE WEAPON

Andrej Stojakovic

26 PTS
10–16 FG | 33 minutes

Stojakovic was Illinois' most efficient high-volume scorer, converting 62.5% of his field-goal attempts. His highlight-reel euro step demonstrated the individual shot creation Illinois can turn to when its offense needs a basket.

ILLINOIS | TWO-WAY CONTRIBUTOR

Stefan Vaaks

14 PTS
6–11 FG | 24 minutes

Vaaks contributed scoring and defensive energy, with the highlights showing his ability to disrupt possessions and create opportunities for teammates.

Additional Illinois Leaders

Coleman's four steals were particularly important. His hustle and defensive activity helped Illinois create additional transition opportunities, including a possession that resulted in an emphatic dunk by Tomislav Ivisic.

S³ Team Statistics Comparison

Three Factors That Decided the Game

1. Illinois Protected the Basketball

Illinois committed just six turnovers compared with Sam Houston's 14.

That eight-turnover advantage became even more significant when examining points generated from mistakes.

Illinois points off turnovers: 19
Sam Houston points off turnovers: 2

The 17-point differential in points off turnovers accounted for a substantial portion of the 22-point final margin.

2. Transition Basketball Created Separation

Illinois outscored Sam Houston 23–6 in fast-break points.

The Fighting Illini repeatedly turned defensive stops into immediate offensive opportunities.

Their nine steals, combined with efficient transition execution, made it difficult for the Bearkats to recover defensively.

3. Illinois Controlled the Interior

Illinois won the rebounding battle 45–35 and outscored Sam Houston 50–34 in the paint.

The Fighting Illini also recorded six blocks, compared with just two for the Bearkats.

That combination of interior scoring, rim protection and rebounding gave Illinois a decisive advantage despite Sam Houston's respectable perimeter shooting.

Sam Houston's Offensive Bright Spots

The Bearkats weren't completely overwhelmed offensively.

Aidan McDowell

7–13 FG
19 PTS

Justin Begg

10 assists | 6–18 FG
19 PTS

Yoda Oke

4–8 FG
14 PTS

McDowell and Begg combined for 38 points, while Begg added an impressive 10 assists.

Sam Houston's 42% three-point shooting also demonstrated that the Bearkats could generate offense against a nationally ranked opponent.

Their biggest problem wasn't an inability to score. It was their inability to consistently prevent Illinois from scoring.

S³ Assessment: Illinois' Offensive Ceiling Is Impressive, but the Defense Still Has Work to Do

Illinois deserves considerable credit for its offensive execution.

Scoring 108 points while shooting 53% and committing only six turnovers represents an outstanding performance.

The combination of Tomislav Ivisic and Andrej Stojakovic gives the Fighting Illini two dangerous scoring options, while the contributions of Ethan Brown, Quentin Coleman and Stefan Vaaks provide additional balance.

But there is an important concern.

Illinois surrendered 86 points to Sam Houston.

The Bearkats made 14 three-pointers, shot 42% from beyond the arc and distributed 19 assists.

Although Illinois dominated the turnover battle and produced several impressive defensive highlights, the overall defensive performance wasn't nearly as convincing as the offense.

Against stronger competition, surrendering that level of offensive production could become a problem.

Illinois has the offensive weapons to compete with elite programs. Its ability to consistently defend those opponents will help determine how far the Fighting Illini can advance.

S³ Final Verdict

Illinois improved to 3–1 with a commanding 22-point victory, demonstrating tremendous scoring potential and excellent ball security.

Tomislav Ivisic and Andrej Stojakovic combined for 54 points, while the Fighting Illini generated 23 assists, 23 fast-break points and 19 points off turnovers.

S³ Bottom Line: Illinois looked like a top-three team offensively. The Fighting Illini controlled the tempo, protected the basketball and scored from virtually every area of the floor. The defense produced turnovers and transition opportunities, but allowing 86 points leaves room for improvement.

The offensive firepower is there. The next challenge is matching it with consistent defensive execution.

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