Big Ten Basketball Recap: Illinois Loses to Alabama
The Big Ten had five games on Wednesday night, highlighted by a matchup between Alabama and Illinois, where Alabama triumphed. Other notable games included Rutgers’ win over Merrimack and USC’s victory over San Jose State.
Game of the Night:
No. 8 Alabama 100, No. 25 Illinois 87
Illinois entered this game with an undefeated record, having won their first three games by double digits. They were up against a tough challenge on the road in Birmingham. Alabama, coming off a loss to Purdue, was looking to bounce back.
While the game stayed competitive at times, Alabama quickly established a commanding lead. Illinois mounted a second-half rally but couldn’t close the gap. Alabama’s Grant Nelson was the standout player, scoring 23 points with eight rebounds. Illinois’ Will Riley contributed 18 points and nine rebounds in a losing effort, while Kyle Boswell added 17 points.
Illinois dropped to 3-1 with the loss and will look to regroup when they face Maryland Eastern Shore on Saturday. They will focus on improving their defense, as Alabama had too many easy scoring opportunities inside.
Other Big Ten Results:
Penn State 102, Purdue Fort Wayne 89
Penn State continued its strong start to the season with a fifth consecutive double-digit victory. Ace Baldwin nearly recorded a triple-double with 25 points, 11 assists, and seven rebounds. Yanic Konan Niederhauser added 16 points, 10 rebounds, and five blocks. Penn State improved to 5-0 and will face Fordham next week after a short break.
No. 24 Rutgers 74, Merrimack 63
Rutgers earned an 11-point win over Merrimack, despite a less-than-perfect performance. Ace Bailey led the way with 23 points and 10 rebounds, while Dylan Harper chipped in with 14 points. Rutgers is now 4-0 and will travel to face Kennesaw State on Sunday.
UCLA 84, Idaho State 70
UCLA won comfortably against Idaho State, fueled by Tyler Bilodeau’s 20 points and 21 points from Sebastian Mack off the bench. The victory pushed UCLA’s record to 4-1. They will next play Cal State Fullerton at home on Friday.
USC 82, San Jose State 68
USC secured a solid win over San Jose State at home, with Terrance Williams and Chibuzo Agbo each scoring 20 points. USC improved to 4-1 and will face Grambling State next.
