Illinois Fighting Illini vs Houston Cougars, NCAA Men's Basketball Championship South Region Sweet 16

College BasketballNCAA Men's Basketball Championship · South Region - Sweet 16

#3Illinois

27-8

65-55

Final

#2Houston

30-7

Toyota Center (Houston)

Lead tracker

ILL leadsBiggest lead ILL 18, HOU 3

HOU leads

Team	1H	2H	T
ILL	24	41	65
HOU	22	33	55

Who won: Illinois 65-55

The Illinois Fighting Illini beat the Houston Cougars 65-55 in NCAA Men's Basketball Championship South Region Sweet 16 on Thursday, March 26, 2026 at Toyota Center (Houston). The Illinois outscored the Houston 41-33 in the 2nd half. David Mirkovic led the Illinois in points (14). Emanuel Sharp led the Houston in points (17).

Every player rated

Chirp Rating, 3.0 to 10.0

Team stats

ILLHOU

22-51FG22-64

43Field Goal %34

9-233PT9-32

39Three Point %28

12-21FT2-2

57Free Throw %100

43Rebounds34

12Offensive Rebounds11

31Defensive Rebounds23

13Assists17

2Steals4

3Blocks2

9Turnovers5

1Team Turnovers1

9Total Turnovers5

0Technical Fouls0

0Total Technical Fouls0

0Flagrant Fouls0

7Points Off Turnovers15

2Fast Break Points0

24Points in Paint18

14Fouls21

18Largest Lead3

4Lead Changes4

86Percent Led4

Player of the game

Keaton Wagler

ILL · 13 PTS, 12 REB

7.0

Win probability

100%ILL final

ILLHOU

Tap or hover the line to see the play. Dots mark the biggest swings.

Play by play

End of Game
End of 2nd half
H2 0:13
Defensive rebound
Keaton Wagler Defensive Rebound.
H2 0:17
Misses 24-foot three point jumper
Chase McCarty misses 24-foot three point jumper
C. McCarty · 9 PTS
H2 0:25
+1
Makes free throw 2 of 2
Keaton Wagler makes free throw 2 of 2
K. Wagler · 13 PTS
ILL 65 - 55 HOU
H2 0:25ILL
Dead ball rebound
Illinois Deadball Team Rebound.
H2 0:25
Misses free throw 1 of 2
Keaton Wagler misses free throw 1 of 2
K. Wagler · 13 PTS
H2 0:25
Foul on Milos Uzan
Foul on Milos Uzan.
M. Uzan · 6 PTS
H2 0:30ILL
Defensive rebound
Illinois Defensive Rebound.
H2 0:32
Misses 26-foot three point jumper
Emanuel Sharp misses 26-foot three point jumper
E. Sharp · 17 PTS
H2 0:40
+1
Makes free throw 2 of 2
Kylan Boswell makes free throw 2 of 2
K. Boswell · 6 PTS
ILL 64 - 55 HOU
H2 0:40
+1
Makes free throw 1 of 2
Kylan Boswell makes free throw 1 of 2
K. Boswell · 6 PTS
ILL 63 - 55 HOU
H2 0:40
Foul on Kingston Flemings
Foul on Kingston Flemings.
K. Flemings · 11 PTS
H2 0:42HOU
Regulartimeout
Houston Timeout
H2 0:42
+2
Layup
Emanuel Sharp makes layup
E. Sharp · 17 PTS
ILL 62 - 55 HOU
H2 0:48HOU
Offensive rebound
Houston Offensive Rebound.
H2 0:48
Block
David Mirkovic Block.
D. Mirkovic · 14 PTS
H2 0:48
Misses 25-foot three point jumper
Emanuel Sharp misses 25-foot three point jumper
E. Sharp · 17 PTS
H2 0:56
Defensive rebound
Chase McCarty Defensive Rebound.
H2 0:57
Misses free throw 2 of 2
Kylan Boswell misses free throw 2 of 2
K. Boswell · 6 PTS
H2 0:57
+1
Makes free throw 1 of 2
Kylan Boswell makes free throw 1 of 2
K. Boswell · 6 PTS
ILL 62 - 53 HOU
H2 0:57
Foul on Kingston Flemings
Foul on Kingston Flemings.
K. Flemings · 11 PTS
H2 0:58
Defensive rebound
David Mirkovic Defensive Rebound.
H2 1:03
Misses 25-foot three point jumper
Chase McCarty misses 25-foot three point jumper
C. McCarty · 9 PTS
H2 1:12
+1
Makes free throw 2 of 2
Kylan Boswell makes free throw 2 of 2
K. Boswell · 6 PTS
ILL 61 - 53 HOU