Illinois dominates penn, charges into ncaa tournament second round

U of Illinois center David Mirkovic delivered a standout performance, racking up 29 points and 17 rebounds as the No. 3-seeded Fighting Illini soundly defeated the No. 14 Penn Quakers 105-70 in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament Thursday night. The decisive victory sets up a second-round matchup against No. 11 VCU.

Mirkovic's double-double fuels illini explosion

Keaton Wagler contributed 18 points, 7 assists, and 7 rebounds for Illinois (25-8), showcasing a balanced offensive attack. The Illini’s dominant shooting, finishing 50% from the field with 15 three-pointers, overwhelmed a smaller Penn squad that struggled to contain the Illini’s inside-outside game. Illinois outrebounded Penn 48-25, a key factor in their control of the game.

Penn’s Michael Zanoni led his team with 20 points on 9-of-18 shooting, a valiant effort considering the Quakers’ challenging tournament path. The team was also missing TJ Power, who had scored a tournament-winning 44 points in the previous game against Yale. Power’s absence, due to illness, clearly impacted Penn's offensive potency.

Mirkovic set the tone early, contributing 17 points and 10 rebounds in the first half, establishing a 40-30 lead. A pivotal moment came in the second half when Mirkovic secured a steal and assisted Zvonimir Ivisic on a transition alley-oop dunk, extending the Illini's lead to 23 points with 10 minutes remaining. The Quakers displayed sportsmanship after the final buzzer, offering applause to their fans – a gesture met with enthusiastic appreciation.

Illinois and VCU previously met in 2016, with Illinois securing a 62-46 victory. The Illini now advance to face VCU, a team known for its defensive tenacity. The Illini’s efficient offense and rebounding dominance proved too much for Penn to overcome, a stark contrast to Penn’s overtime win over Yale that earned them a tournament berth. The bracket and further coverage can be found at the provided AP links.