Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern
10-13,2-10Big Ten
#5 Illinois
20-3,11-1Big Ten
’Cats Drop Road Bout at No. 5 Illinois
2/4/2026 10:15:00 PM | Men's Basketball
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Northwestern suffered an 84-44 setback at No. 5 Illinois on Wednesday night in the State Farm Center.
"It was just one of those nights," Sullivan-Ubben Head Men's Basketball Coach Chris Collins said. "We thought we got out to a good start. But we really struggled shooting the ball. Obviously, they were as hot as could be with 17 threes."
The Wildcats (10-13, 2-10 Big Ten) jumped out to a 7-5 lead with 15:57 remaining in the first half, but couldn't quell the hot-shooting Fighting Illini (20-3, 11-1 Big Ten).
First-year forward Tre Singleton scored a team-high eight points and grabbed four rebounds. Junior guard Jayden Reid added seven points and four assists.
Northwestern committed just one turnover on Wednesday night, the fewest by an NCAA Division I team against a top 10 opponent since 2004-05. At the other end, the Wildcats forced Illinois into 11 turnovers.
By halftime, the Fighting Illini built a 47-19 lead. The deficit proved too significant for Northwestern to overcome as Illinois secured its 12th consecutive win.
"We've really struggled and just have to keep at it," Collins said. "It was a tough night, and when you don't play well against one of the best teams in the country, it's going to look like that. A really disappointing night for us."
The Wildcats will return to action in a road matchup at Iowa on Sunday, Feb. 8. Tipoff from Carver-Hawkeye Arena is scheduled for 2 p.m. CT on FS1 and WGN Radio 720.
