Illinois basketball sets records in dominant season opener

The No. 3 Illinois Fighting Illini opened their 2026-27 season with a record-setting 120-45 victory over Fairleigh Dickinson at the State Farm Center. The blowout established several program milestones, including a 75-point margin of victory, which surpassed the previous record of 69 set in 1993.

Illinois also set new single-game records for three-pointers made (19) and three-pointers attempted (51). The team featured multiple high-scoring performances, with Stefan Vaaks and Andrej Stojakovic each contributing 20 points. Freshman Quinten Coleman recorded a double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds, while Ethan Brown added 12 points.

Defensively, the Illini held Fairleigh Dickinson to just 1-for-17 from three-point range and controlled the glass with a 36-9 rebounding advantage. The victory marks a high-paced start for coach Brad Underwood’s squad as they begin their regular season campaign.