ILL

PSU

Mirkovic's 13 points, 10 rebounds help No. 20 Illinois top Penn State 73-65 at Philly's Palestra

AP
Jan 03, 2026

PHILADELPHIA (AP) David Mirkovic had 13 points and 10 rebounds and Kylan Boswell scored 18 points to lead No. 20 Illinois Fighting Illini to a 73-65 win over Penn State Nittany Lions on Saturday night at the Palestra.

Keaton Wagler scored 16 points and Zvonimir Ivisic added five blocked shots for the Illini (11-3, 2-1 Big Ten) in the first of a 12-day stretch in which they play three of four conference opponents on the road.

Kayden Mingo scored 16 points for a Penn State, which is trying to end a two-year run of missing the NCAA Tournament. Penn State (9-5, 0-3) tried to pull off the win with the long ball, but missed 30 of 38 3-point attempts and had every small run derailed by wildly off-target shots.

The Nittany Lions enjoyed plenty of success over the last 10 years in Big Ten games at the Palestra, the nearly 100-year-old gym on the campus of the University of Pennsylvania where players from Wilt Chamberlain to LeBron James have played. The Nittany Lions beat a tough Michigan State team in 2017 and defeated No. 23 Iowa in 2020.

The Nittany Lions at least kept it close in a game in which they were 16 1/2-point betting underdogs, according to BetMGM online sportsbook.

Nittany Lions fans that filled the bulk of the Palestra bleachers roared when Tibor Mirtic scored a layup that made it 57-49 and briefly put the threat of an upset within reach. Mingo hit a late 3 that made it 73-63

The Ilini, who already lost one conference game to Nebraska this season, rolled to their fifth win in the last six games and fourth straight overall on the road, in large part due to a decisive edge on the boards (48-37) and at the free-throw line. Illinois shot 23 for 28 from the line. Penn State was 9 for 14.

Illinois: Hosts Rutgers on Thursday.

Penn State: Hosts No. 2 Michigan on Tuesday.

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1st Half
ILL
Fighting Illini
40
PSU
Nittany Lions
26

Time		Play	Score
20:00		Tomislav Ivisic vs. Ivan JuriÄ (Tomislav Ivisic gains possession)
19:41	+3	Kylan Boswell makes three point jump shot (Keaton Wagler assists)	3-0
19:23		Josh Reed turnover (lost ball) (Tomislav Ivisic steals)
19:10	+2	Kylan Boswell makes two point floating jump shot	5-0
18:59		Ivan JuriÄ misses three point jump shot
18:57		David Mirkovic defensive rebound
18:31		Keaton Wagler misses three point jump shot
18:29		Fighting Illini offensive rebound
18:27		Kayden Mingo personal foul
18:22		Andrej Stojakovic misses three point jump shot
18:20		Nittany Lions defensive rebound
17:58		Eli Rice misses three point jump shot
17:56		David Mirkovic defensive rebound
17:43		Tomislav Ivisic misses three point jump shot
17:41		Andrej Stojakovic offensive rebound
17:36	+2	David Mirkovic makes two point driving layup (Keaton Wagler assists)	7-0
17:24	+3	Eli Rice makes three point jump shot (Freddie Dilione V assists)	7-3
17:01		Ivan JuriÄ personal foul
16:20		Keaton Wagler misses three point jump shot
16:18		Andrej Stojakovic offensive rebound
16:10	+2	Kylan Boswell makes two point driving layup	9-3
16:02		Freddie Dilione V turnover (bad pass)
15:54		Tomislav Ivisic misses two point driving hook shot
15:52		Freddie Dilione V defensive rebound
15:41		Andrej Stojakovic blocks Kayden Mingo's three point jump shot
15:39		Keaton Wagler defensive rebound
15:39	+2	Andrej Stojakovic makes two point driving layup (Keaton Wagler assists)	11-3
15:38		Josh Reed misses three point jump shot
15:36		Keaton Wagler defensive rebound
15:34	+2	Andrej Stojakovic makes two point driving layup	13-3
15:34		Nittany Lions 30 second timeout
15:34		TV timeout
15:29	+3	Dominick Stewart makes three point jump shot (Kayden Mingo assists)	13-6
15:18		Keaton Wagler turnover (bad pass) (Kayden Mingo steals)
15:14	+2	Melih Tunca makes two point driving layup (Kayden Mingo assists)	13-8
15:13		Keaton Wagler shooting foul (Melih Tunca draws the foul)
15:10	+1	Melih Tunca makes regular free throw 1 of 1	13-9
14:47		Kylan Boswell misses three point jump shot
14:45		Ben Humrichous offensive rebound
14:37	+2	Ben Humrichous makes two point putback layup	15-9
14:35		Keaton Wagler personal foul
14:34		Melih Tunca turnover (bad pass) (Jake Davis steals)
14:26		Jake Davis misses three point jump shot
14:24		Nittany Lions defensive rebound
14:24		David Mirkovic personal foul
14:12		Zvonimir Ivisic blocks Eli Rice's two point driving layup
14:10		Jake Davis defensive rebound
14:06		Dominick Stewart shooting foul (Kylan Boswell draws the foul)
14:06	+1	Kylan Boswell makes regular free throw 1 of 2	16-9
14:06	+1	Kylan Boswell makes regular free throw 2 of 2	17-9
13:54		Melih Tunca misses two point pullup jump shot
13:52		Fighting Illini defensive rebound
13:52		Tibor MirtiÄ personal foul
13:32		David Mirkovic misses three point jump shot
13:30		SaÅ¡a Ciani defensive rebound
13:10		Zvonimir Ivisic blocks SaÅ¡a Ciani's two point driving layup
13:08		Dominick Stewart offensive rebound
12:55	+2	Melih Tunca makes two point driving layup	17-11
12:34		Kylan Boswell misses three point jump shot
12:32		Melih Tunca defensive rebound
12:25		Tibor MirtiÄ misses two point driving layup
12:23		SaÅ¡a Ciani offensive rebound
12:22	+2	SaÅ¡a Ciani makes two point putback layup	17-13
12:12		Kylan Boswell misses two point pullup jump shot
12:10		Nittany Lions defensive rebound
12:03		Dominick Stewart misses three point jump shot
12:01		Tibor MirtiÄ offensive rebound
11:49		SaÅ¡a Ciani misses two point driving layup
11:47		David Mirkovic defensive rebound
11:37	+3	Ben Humrichous makes three point jump shot (David Mirkovic assists)	20-13
11:16		Zvonimir Ivisic blocks Melih Tunca's two point pullup jump shot
11:14		Zvonimir Ivisic defensive rebound
11:07		Zvonimir Ivisic turnover (bad pass) (Eli Rice steals)
11:02		TV timeout
10:42		Freddie Dilione V misses three point jump shot
10:40		Zvonimir Ivisic defensive rebound
10:20		Freddie Dilione V personal foul
10:09	+2	Keaton Wagler makes two point driving layup	22-13
9:42		Zvonimir Ivisic blocks Melih Tunca's two point driving layup
9:40		Keaton Wagler defensive rebound
9:31		Kayden Mingo personal foul (Andrej Stojakovic draws the foul)
9:19	+3	Keaton Wagler makes three point jump shot	25-13
8:56		Freddie Dilione V turnover (bad pass)
8:38	+2	Keaton Wagler makes two point driving layup	27-13
8:32		Melih Tunca misses three point jump shot
8:30		Josh Reed offensive rebound
8:21		David Mirkovic shooting foul (Ivan JuriÄ draws the foul)
8:21	+1	Ivan JuriÄ makes regular free throw 1 of 2	27-14
8:21	+1	Ivan JuriÄ makes regular free throw 2 of 2	27-15
7:57		Andrej Stojakovic misses two point fadeaway jump shot
7:55		Ivan JuriÄ defensive rebound
7:40		Freddie Dilione V misses two point jump shot
7:38		Nittany Lions offensive rebound
7:38		Tomislav Ivisic personal foul
7:38		TV timeout
7:20		Eli Rice misses three point jump shot
7:18		Mason Blackwood offensive rebound
7:16		Tomislav Ivisic personal foul
6:59		Mason Blackwood misses three point jump shot
6:57		Nittany Lions offensive rebound
6:57		Kylan Boswell personal foul (Ivan JuriÄ draws the foul)
6:57	+1	Ivan JuriÄ makes regular free throw 1 of 1	27-16
6:57		Ivan JuriÄ misses regular free throw 2 of 2
6:57		Zvonimir Ivisic defensive rebound
6:41	+3	Zvonimir Ivisic makes three point jump shot (Jake Davis assists)	30-16
6:24	+2	Eli Rice makes two point pullup jump shot	30-18
6:04	+2	Keaton Wagler makes two point driving layup	32-18
5:53		Ivan JuriÄ misses three point jump shot
5:51		Zvonimir Ivisic defensive rebound
5:41		Keaton Wagler misses three point jump shot
5:41		Fighting Illini offensive rebound
5:41		Ivan JuriÄ personal foul (Zvonimir Ivisic draws the foul)
5:39		Zvonimir Ivisic misses regular free throw 1 of 1
5:39		Eli Rice defensive rebound
5:20	+3	Eli Rice makes three point jump shot (Dominick Stewart assists)	32-21
5:01		Mason Blackwood personal foul (Keaton Wagler draws the foul)
5:01	+1	Keaton Wagler makes regular free throw 1 of 2	33-21
5:01		Keaton Wagler misses regular free throw 2 of 2
5:01		Mason Blackwood defensive rebound
4:46		Dominick Stewart misses two point stepback jump shot
4:44		Zvonimir Ivisic defensive rebound
4:25		Andrej Stojakovic misses two point driving layup
4:23		SaÅ¡a Ciani defensive rebound
4:10		Dominick Stewart misses three point jump shot
4:08		Ben Humrichous defensive rebound
3:53		Jake Davis misses three point jump shot
3:51		Nittany Lions defensive rebound
3:51		Keaton Wagler personal foul
3:51		TV timeout
3:51		Eli Rice misses regular free throw 1 of 1
3:51		Fighting Illini defensive rebound
3:50		SaÅ¡a Ciani personal foul (Zvonimir Ivisic draws the foul)
3:50		Zvonimir Ivisic misses regular free throw 1 of 1
3:50		Eli Rice defensive rebound
3:25	+2	Mason Blackwood makes two point pullup jump shot	33-23
3:09		Mason Blackwood personal foul (Andrej Stojakovic draws the foul)
3:09	+1	Andrej Stojakovic makes regular free throw 1 of 2	34-23
3:09	+1	Andrej Stojakovic makes regular free throw 2 of 2	35-23
2:47	+3	Mason Blackwood makes three point jump shot (Dominick Stewart assists)	35-26
2:19		Ben Humrichous misses three point jump shot
2:17		Zvonimir Ivisic offensive rebound
2:15		SaÅ¡a Ciani shooting foul (Zvonimir Ivisic draws the foul)
2:15		Zvonimir Ivisic misses regular free throw 1 of 2
2:15	+1	Zvonimir Ivisic makes regular free throw 2 of 2	36-26
1:47		Dominick Stewart misses three point jump shot
1:45		Zvonimir Ivisic defensive rebound
1:29		Dominick Stewart blocks Andrej Stojakovic's two point driving layup
1:27		Melih Tunca defensive rebound
1:23		Eli Rice misses three point jump shot
1:21		Fighting Illini defensive rebound
1:21		Mason Blackwood personal foul (Kylan Boswell draws the foul)
1:21	+1	Kylan Boswell makes regular free throw 1 of 2	37-26
1:21	+1	Kylan Boswell makes regular free throw 2 of 2	38-26
1:06		Tibor MirtiÄ offensive foul
1:06		Tibor MirtiÄ turnover (offensive foul)
0:39	+2	Andrej Stojakovic makes two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot	40-26
0:39		Fighting Illini 30 second timeout
0:25		Brandon Lee shooting foul (SaÅ¡a Ciani draws the foul)
0:25		SaÅ¡a Ciani misses regular free throw 1 of 2
0:25		SaÅ¡a Ciani misses regular free throw 2 of 2
0:25		Zvonimir Ivisic defensive rebound
0:06		Kylan Boswell misses two point driving layup
0:04		Dominick Stewart defensive rebound
0:00		End of period

2nd Half
ILL
Fighting Illini
33
PSU
Nittany Lions
39

Time		Play	Score
19:45		Eli Rice misses three point jump shot
19:43		Tomislav Ivisic defensive rebound
19:34		Dominick Stewart personal foul
19:27		Keaton Wagler turnover (lost ball) (Eli Rice steals)
19:27		Keaton Wagler personal foul
19:14	+3	Ivan JuriÄ makes three point jump shot (Kayden Mingo assists)	40-29
18:50		Andrej Stojakovic turnover (lost ball) (Ivan JuriÄ steals)
18:38		Ivan JuriÄ misses two point layup
18:36		Andrej Stojakovic defensive rebound
18:29		David Mirkovic misses three point jump shot
18:27		Kayden Mingo defensive rebound
18:21		Josh Reed misses two point layup
18:19		David Mirkovic defensive rebound
18:13	+2	Kylan Boswell makes two point layup	42-29
18:03		Ivan JuriÄ misses three point jump shot
18:01		Andrej Stojakovic defensive rebound
17:52	+2	David Mirkovic makes two point layup (Andrej Stojakovic assists)	44-29
17:42	+3	Kayden Mingo makes three point jump shot	44-32
17:20		Kylan Boswell misses two point jump shot
17:18		David Mirkovic offensive rebound
17:17		David Mirkovic misses two point layup
17:17		David Mirkovic offensive rebound
17:17		Dominick Stewart shooting foul (David Mirkovic draws the foul)
17:17	+1	David Mirkovic makes regular free throw 1 of 2	45-32
17:17	+1	David Mirkovic makes regular free throw 2 of 2	46-32
17:05	+2	Kayden Mingo makes two point layup	46-34
16:47		Ben Humrichous misses three point jump shot
16:45		Josh Reed defensive rebound
16:32	+3	Freddie Dilione V makes three point jump shot (Kayden Mingo assists)	46-37
15:58		Kylan Boswell misses two point jump shot
15:56		David Mirkovic offensive rebound
15:54	+2	David Mirkovic makes two point layup	48-37
15:29		Kayden Mingo misses three point jump shot
15:27		Ivan JuriÄ offensive rebound
15:27		David Mirkovic personal foul
15:27		TV timeout
15:26		Ben Humrichous personal foul
15:21		Kayden Mingo misses three point jump shot
15:19		Ben Humrichous defensive rebound
14:53		Kylan Boswell misses two point jump shot
14:51		Andrej Stojakovic offensive rebound
14:37		Mason Blackwood personal foul
14:31		Andrej Stojakovic turnover (traveling)
14:11		Kayden Mingo misses two point jump shot
14:09		Fighting Illini defensive rebound
14:09		Eli Rice personal foul
13:56		Mihailo Petrovic misses two point layup
13:54		Melih Tunca defensive rebound
13:48		Kayden Mingo misses three point jump shot
13:46		Freddie Dilione V offensive rebound
13:45	+2	Freddie Dilione V makes two point layup	48-39
13:31		Ivan JuriÄ personal foul
13:24		Zvonimir Ivisic misses three point jump shot
13:22		Nittany Lions defensive rebound
12:52		Freddie Dilione V misses three point jump shot
12:50		Zvonimir Ivisic defensive rebound
12:35	+3	Jake Davis makes three point jump shot (David Mirkovic assists)	51-39
12:11		Eli Rice turnover (lost ball) (Mihailo Petrovic steals)
12:06	+2	David Mirkovic makes two point layup (Mihailo Petrovic assists)	53-39
12:05		Nittany Lions 30 second timeout
12:05		TV timeout
11:52		Freddie Dilione V misses three point jump shot
11:50		Freddie Dilione V offensive rebound
11:47	+2	Freddie Dilione V makes two point layup	53-41
11:32		David Mirkovic turnover (bad pass) (Kayden Mingo steals)
11:26		Freddie Dilione V misses three point jump shot
11:24		Kylan Boswell defensive rebound
11:18		Jake Davis misses three point jump shot
11:16		Nittany Lions defensive rebound
11:16		TV timeout
10:48		Freddie Dilione V misses three point jump shot
10:46		Jake Davis defensive rebound
10:36		Freddie Dilione V personal foul
10:33		Tibor MirtiÄ personal foul
10:33	+1	David Mirkovic makes regular free throw 1 of 2	54-41
10:33	+1	David Mirkovic makes regular free throw 2 of 2	55-41
10:12	+2	SaÅ¡a Ciani makes two point layup (Freddie Dilione V assists)	55-43
9:47		David Mirkovic turnover (lost ball)
9:39		Tibor MirtiÄ turnover (bad pass) (David Mirkovic steals)
9:35	+2	Zvonimir Ivisic makes two point dunk (David Mirkovic assists)	57-43
9:13	+2	Freddie Dilione V makes two point layup	57-45
8:47		Jake Davis turnover (bad pass) (Kayden Mingo steals)
8:22		SaÅ¡a Ciani misses two point hook shot
8:20		David Mirkovic defensive rebound
8:08		Jake Davis misses three point jump shot
8:06		Freddie Dilione V defensive rebound
7:57	+2	SaÅ¡a Ciani makes two point layup (Kayden Mingo assists)	57-47
7:35		Zvonimir Ivisic misses three point jump shot
7:33		SaÅ¡a Ciani defensive rebound
7:27	+2	Tibor MirtiÄ makes two point layup (Dominick Stewart assists)	57-49
7:20		Fighting Illini 30 second timeout
7:20		TV timeout
7:03		Kylan Boswell misses three point jump shot
7:01		Ben Humrichous offensive rebound
6:41		Fighting Illini turnover (shot clock violation)
6:28		Ivan JuriÄ misses three point jump shot
6:26		Andrej Stojakovic defensive rebound
6:19	+2	Andrej Stojakovic makes two point layup	59-49
5:55		Freddie Dilione V misses three point jump shot
5:53		Kylan Boswell defensive rebound
5:42	+3	Kylan Boswell makes three point jump shot	62-49
5:25		Tibor MirtiÄ misses three point jump shot
5:24		Fighting Illini defensive rebound
5:24		Dominick Stewart personal foul
5:24	+1	Keaton Wagler makes regular free throw 1 of 2	63-49
5:24	+1	Keaton Wagler makes regular free throw 2 of 2	64-49
5:06		Melih Tunca misses three point jump shot
5:04		Dominick Stewart offensive rebound
5:03		Kayden Mingo misses three point jump shot
5:01		Kylan Boswell defensive rebound
4:54		Kylan Boswell turnover (bad pass) (Kayden Mingo steals)
4:49		Melih Tunca misses two point layup
4:47		Eli Rice offensive rebound
4:44	+2	Eli Rice makes two point layup	64-51
4:44		Tomislav Ivisic shooting foul (Eli Rice draws the foul)
4:44	+1	Eli Rice makes regular free throw 1 of 1	64-52
4:37		Kayden Mingo personal foul
4:37	+1	Keaton Wagler makes regular free throw 1 of 2	65-52
4:37	+1	Keaton Wagler makes regular free throw 2 of 2	66-52
4:18		Tomislav Ivisic shooting foul
4:18	+1	Kayden Mingo makes regular free throw 1 of 2	66-53
4:18	+1	Kayden Mingo makes regular free throw 2 of 2	66-54
4:04		David Mirkovic misses three point jump shot
4:02		Eli Rice defensive rebound
3:58		TV timeout
3:50		Kylan Boswell personal foul
3:41		Eli Rice misses three point jump shot
3:39		Nittany Lions offensive rebound
3:24		Dominick Stewart misses three point jump shot
3:22		Zvonimir Ivisic defensive rebound
3:01		Dominick Stewart personal foul
3:01	+1	Keaton Wagler makes regular free throw 1 of 2	67-54
3:01	+1	Keaton Wagler makes regular free throw 2 of 2	68-54
2:42	+2	Kayden Mingo makes two point layup	68-56
2:14		Andrej Stojakovic misses three point jump shot
2:12		David Mirkovic offensive rebound
1:59		Keaton Wagler misses three point jump shot
1:57		David Mirkovic offensive rebound
1:56		Kayden Mingo personal foul
1:56		David Mirkovic misses regular free throw 1 of 2
1:56	+1	David Mirkovic makes regular free throw 2 of 2	69-56
1:45		Zvonimir Ivisic blocks Ivan JuriÄ's two point dunk
1:43		Ivan JuriÄ offensive rebound
1:43	+2	Ivan JuriÄ makes two point layup	69-58
1:43		David Mirkovic shooting foul
1:43		Ivan JuriÄ misses regular free throw 1 of 1
1:43		Kylan Boswell defensive rebound
1:37		Freddie Dilione V personal foul
1:37	+1	Kylan Boswell makes regular free throw 1 of 2	70-58
1:37	+1	Kylan Boswell makes regular free throw 2 of 2	71-58
1:30		Kylan Boswell personal foul
1:30	+1	Kayden Mingo makes regular free throw 1 of 2	71-59
1:30	+1	Kayden Mingo makes regular free throw 2 of 2	71-60
1:27		Freddie Dilione V personal foul
1:27	+1	Andrej Stojakovic makes regular free throw 1 of 2	72-60
1:27	+1	Andrej Stojakovic makes regular free throw 2 of 2	73-60
1:15	+3	Kayden Mingo makes three point jump shot (Melih Tunca assists)	73-63
1:14		Nittany Lions 30 second timeout
0:45		Keaton Wagler misses two point jump shot
0:43		Mason Blackwood defensive rebound
0:37		Kayden Mingo misses three point jump shot
0:35		Tomislav Ivisic defensive rebound
0:08		Tomislav Ivisic misses two point layup
0:06		Kayden Mingo defensive rebound
0:03	+2	Kayden Mingo makes two point layup	73-65
0:00		End of period

+ 2

Kayden Mingo makes two point layup