Andrej Stojakovic and Stefan Vaaks each score 20 as No. 3 Illinois beats
Fairleigh Dickinson 120-45
[November 03, 2026]
By STEVE STEIN
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) — Andrej Stojakovic and Stefan
Vaaks each scored 20 points Monday night as No. 3 Illinois opened its
season with a 120-45 win over Fairleigh Dickinson.
The Fighting Illini made a program-record 19 3-pointers, had six players
score in double figures and outrebounded Fairleigh Dickinson 65-21. |
Illinois guard Andrej Stojakovic advances during the first half of an
NCAA college basketball game against Fairleigh Dickinson Monday, Nov. 2,
2026, in Champaign, Ill. (AP Photo/Craig Pessman) |
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The 75-point margin of victory was the largest for Illinois
(1-0) at the State Farm Center, which opened in 1963. The Illini
fell seven points short of tying the school record for points in
a game.
Quinton Coleman had 13 points and 10 rebounds, Ethan Brown added
12 points and nine rebounds, and Zavier Zens also finished with
12 points for Illinois — each in his collegiate debut.
Tomislav Ivisic scored 10 in the 7-footer's 30th game with
multiple 3s.
David Jevtic had 13 points for Fairleigh Dickinson (0-1), which
shot 28% from the field (17 of 61).
Illinois played without AP preseason All-American David Mirkovic.
The 6-foot-9 sophomore forward underwent an appendectomy
Saturday and is out indefinitely. Mirkovic also is recovering
from early August foot surgery.
The Illini's injured list grew Monday when Jake Davis hurt his
shoulder midway through the first half and did not return.
Illinois went on a 24-0 run late in the first half, during which
Fairleigh Dickinson called its final timeout, and led 67-20 at
halftime. The teams attempted a combined 48 3-pointers in the
first half, with the Illini going 12 of 31 and the Knights 1 of
17.
The Illini improved to 108-14 in season openers. They’ve won 10
straight since Brad Underwood’s first season as coach in 2017.
Farleigh Dickinson finished 11-21 last season. The Knights have
had three straight losing seasons since upsetting No. 1 seed
Purdue as a No. 16 seed in the 2023 NCAA Tournament.
Up next
Fairleigh Dickinson: Plays at Butler on Wednesday.
Illinois: Will host Penn on Thursday.
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