11/02/2026 09:47:00
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11/02 21:46 CST Andrej Stojakovic and Stefan Vaaks each score 20 as No. 3
Illinois beats Fairleigh Dickinson 120-45
Andrej Stojakovic and Stefan Vaaks each score 20 as No. 3 Illinois beats
Fairleigh Dickinson 120-45
By STEVE STEIN
Associated Press
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) --- Andrej Stojakovic and Stefan Vaaks each scored 20
points Monday night as No. 3 Illinois opened its season with a 120-45 win over
Fairleigh Dickinson.
The Fighting Illini made a program-record 19 3-pointers, had six players score
in double figures and outrebounded Fairleigh Dickinson 65-21.
The 75-point margin of victory was the largest for Illinois (1-0) at the State
Farm Center, which opened in 1963. The Illini fell seven points short of tying
the school record for points in a game.
Quinton Coleman had 13 points and 10 rebounds, Ethan Brown added 12 points and
nine rebounds, and Zavier Zens also finished with 12 points for Illinois ---
each in his collegiate debut.
Tomislav Ivisic scored 10 in the 7-footer's 30th game with multiple 3s.
David Jevtic had 13 points for Fairleigh Dickinson (0-1), which shot 28% from
the field (17 of 61).
Illinois played without AP preseason All-American David Mirkovic. The 6-foot-9
sophomore forward underwent an appendectomy Saturday and is out indefinitely.
Mirkovic also is recovering from early August foot surgery.
The Illini's injured list grew Monday when Jake Davis hurt his shoulder midway
through the first half and did not return.
Illinois went on a 24-0 run late in the first half, during which Fairleigh
Dickinson called its final timeout, and led 67-20 at halftime. The teams
attempted a combined 48 3-pointers in the first half, with the Illini going 12
of 31 and the Knights 1 of 17.
The Illini improved to 108-14 in season openers. They've won 10 straight since
Brad Underwood's first season as coach in 2017.
Farleigh Dickinson finished 11-21 last season. The Knights have had three
straight losing seasons since upsetting No. 1 seed Purdue as a No. 16 seed in
the 2023 NCAA Tournament.
Up next
Fairleigh Dickinson: Plays at Butler on Wednesday.
Illinois: Will host Penn on Thursday.
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