- Illinois achieves rare 100% free throw performance (18/18)
- Jakucionis delivers near triple-double: 16 pts/10 ast/9 reb
- 7-foot-1 Ivisic sets NCAA record for 3PM by center (4)
The Midwest Region's 6th-seeded Illinois Fighting Illini showcased tournament-ready precision Friday night, combining flawless free throw shooting with dominant rebounding to eliminate Xavier 86-73. This marked Illinois' third consecutive NCAA Tournament victory dating back to last year's Elite Eight run, demonstrating growing postseason composure under coach Brad Underwood.
European stars Kasparas Jakucionis and Tomislav Ivisic rewrote the record books at Fiserv Forum. The Lithuanian guard's 10 assists tied for third-most in program tournament history, while his Croatian teammate became the first 7-footer ever to make four three-pointers in March Madness action. Their unique skill sets exemplify modern basketball's positionless evolution.
Three critical factors decided this matchup:
- 45-25 rebounding advantage (15 offensive boards)
- +18 margin in free throw points
- 8-0 second-half run establishing permanent double-digit lead
The Illini's 60% conversion rate from beyond the arc in the game's decisive stretch (12:30-4:00 remaining) crushed Xavier's comeback hopes. Regional analysts note this performance continues a Big Ten trend - conference teams now 11-3 in opening round games since 2021 when achieving ≥40% three-point accuracy.
Xavier's Cinderella aspirations faded despite Dailyn Swain's career-high 27 points. The Musketeers became the first team in tournament history to lose back-to-back games after erasing 13+ point deficits, highlighting late-game execution issues. Senior leader Zach Freemantle's 5-point outing (55% below season average) proved particularly damaging.
Sunday's showdown with 3rd-seeded Kentucky presents fascinating contrasts. The Wildcats' 23rd-ranked defense must contend with Illinois' 8th-rated offense nationally. Historical data favors teams with Illinois' profile: Since 2010, squads recording ≥15 assists and ≤8 turnovers (as Illinois did) win 78% of second-round matchups.