Second-half explosion sends Illinois past Houston into South final
Published on March 27, 2026.
Third-seeded Illinois advanced to the Elite Eight of the South Regional semifinals of the 2026 NCAA Tournament after a strong second-half surge from Houston, winning 65-55. The Fighting Illini, who will face ninth seed Iowa in the next round, paralysed a 17-0 second half run to secure a victory. David Mirkovic and Keaton Wagler scored double-doubles, contributing 14 points and 10 rebounds respectively for the team. Houston's Emmanuel Sharp led with 17 points and Kingston Flemings added 11 points. The winner of the game will face eighth seed Iowa, with the winner advancing to the Final Four.
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