Illinois Advances to Final Four After Defeating Iowa

For the first time in over 20 years, the Illinois men's basketball team is heading to the Final Four.

The Fighting Illini defeated Iowa 71-59 in the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament on Saturday night at Houston’s Toyota Center. The victory marks Illinois’ sixth all-time trip to the Final Four and first since 2005.

The game was delayed early in the first half due to a malfunctioning buzzer that blared continuously for nearly 10 minutes. Players waited on the court before warming up again as officials worked to resolve the issue. The main scoreboard also went dark, though the game eventually resumed using smaller end-zone displays.

Freshman guard Keaton Wagler led Illinois with 25 points.

Illinois will face either Duke or UConn next week in Indianapolis.