Wagler powers No. 20 Illinois past Missouri 91-48 for biggest blowout in
Braggin' Rights rivalry
[December 23, 2025]
By JEFF LATZKE
ST. LOUIS (AP) — Freshman guard Keaton Wagler made a
career-best five 3-pointers and scored 22 points to lead No. 20 Illinois
to a 91-48 rout of Missouri on Monday night.
Andrej Stojakovic returned from a first-half injury to score 16 points,
and Tomislav Ivisic added 14 points as the Fighting Illini (9-3) rolled
to the most lopsided victory in the history of the Braggin' Rights
rivalry. |
Illinois' Keaton Wagler, right, heads to the basket as Missouri's Jacob
Crews (35) defends during the first half of an NCAA college basketball
game Monday, Dec. 22, 2025, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson) |
|
Sebastian Mack had 17 points off the bench to lead Missouri
(10-3) as coach Dennis Gates left his reserves in for much of
the second half with the game out of hand.
After building a 16-point lead at halftime, the Illini poured it
on with two 3-pointers from Ivisic in the opening minutes of the
second half and finally pulled their starters with 2 1/2 minutes
left.
The largest previous margin of victory in the series, which has
been played 45 times since 1980, was Illinois' 82-50 blowout in
2005, when it was coming off a Final Four run.
Wagler went 5 for 6 from 3-point range and improved to 12 for 18
in the past three games.
The Illini started to pull away midway through the first half
with a run fueled by second-chance points on one end and blocks
on the other.
Wagler, Ben Humrichous and Jake Davis all hit 3-pointers that
followed offensive rebounds during one four-minute stretch that
also featured three blocks by Zvonimir Ivisic.
Anthony Robinson II scored Missouri's first nine points to keep
it close early on, but the Tigers trailed 41-25 by the time he
closed the first half by hitting a free throw for his 10th
point. He finished with 12.
Stojakovic, Illinois' second-leading scorer, went to the locker
room with nine minutes left in the first half after appearing to
injure his left leg. He returned to the bench before halftime
and started the second half, even driving for a thunderous dunk
to make it 63-36 midway through the second half.
Up next
Missouri opens SEC play at home Jan. 3 against No. 22 Florida.
Illinois hosts Southern next Monday.
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