NCAAB · Final

Illinois Dominates Fairleigh Dickinson in Season Opener

120

Monday, November 2, 2026, 8:00 PM ET · State Farm Center

Illinois Fighting Illini 120, Fairleigh Dickinson Knights 45, final. Our NCAAB picks are sealed as a hash before kickoff and settled in public, losses included.

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Quick answers

Who won Fairleigh Dickinson Knights vs Illinois Fighting Illini?

Illinois Fighting Illini beat Fairleigh Dickinson Knights 120-45 at State Farm Center on November 2, 2026.

In a commanding performance, the Illinois Fighting Illini triumphed over the Fairleigh Dickinson Knights with a final score of 120 to 45. This game, held at the State Farm Center, showcased Illinois's offensive prowess and defensive strength, marking a strong start to their season. The Illini, now holding a record of 1-0, displayed their scoring capabilities, averaging 83.8 points per game in their last ten outings, while allowing 73.3 points. In contrast, Fairleigh Dickinson, who fell to 0-1, has struggled recently, averaging just 64.1 points per game and allowing 67.0 points in their last ten games.

Illinois entered the game with a mixed recent form, having a record of 5-5 in their last ten games, but they were looking to bounce back from a loss against the Wisconsin Badgers in their previous outing. The Illini's last five games saw them average 82.0 points scored and 79.2 points allowed, indicating a competitive edge. Fairleigh Dickinson, on the other hand, was on a four-game losing streak, with their last five games yielding only 63.4 points scored and 72.6 points allowed.

At home, Illinois has been solid, posting a 3-3 record, while Fairleigh Dickinson has struggled on the road, with a 1-4 away record. The stark contrast between the teams' home and away performances was evident in this matchup. Previous meetings between these two teams were not detailed in the block, but the overwhelming scoreline suggests that Illinois has established a significant advantage.

In terms of injuries, the block did not provide specific details regarding player availability for either team, but the impact of any absences could have influenced the game dynamics. The betting market, as listed by DraftKings, had Illinois favored significantly with a spread of -40.5 and a total set at 156.5, reflecting expectations of a high-scoring game heavily tilted in favor of the Illini.

The conditions for the game were not explicitly mentioned, but playing at home in the familiar environment of the State Farm Center likely contributed to Illinois's confidence and performance. As the game progressed, viewers witnessed a flurry of scoring plays from Illinois, with standout moments including Lucas Morillo's layup and Quentin McCoy's final basket, which brought the score to 120.

Overall, this game highlighted Illinois's offensive capabilities and set a tone for their season, while Fairleigh Dickinson will need to reassess their strategies moving forward after a challenging opening game.

What we said beforehand

The Illinois Fighting Illini will face the Fairleigh Dickinson Knights in their season opener at the State Farm Center on November 3, 2026. This matchup is particularly intriguing as both teams are entering the game with a clean slate, each holding a 0-0 record to start the season. The Illini will look to capitalize on their home advantage, while the Knights aim to make an impact on the road.

Illinois comes into this game following a mixed bag of results in their last ten games, with a record of 5-5. They recently ended their previous season with a win against the Pennsylvania Quakers, where they scored 105 points to 70. Their last five games show a record of 2-3, with an average of 82.0 points scored and 79.2 points allowed per game. The Illini’s home record in their last ten games stands at 3-3, indicating a balanced performance at home.

On the other hand, the Fairleigh Dickinson Knights have struggled recently, with a record of 4-6 in their last ten games and currently on a four-game losing streak. Their last victory came against the Chicago State Cougars, where they narrowly won 60-59. In their last five games, the Knights have averaged 63.4 points scored and 72.6 points allowed. Their away record in the last ten games is 1-4, highlighting the challenges they face when playing outside their home venue.

The Illini have shown a strong offensive capability, averaging 83.8 points scored per game in their last ten outings, while allowing 73.3 points. This scoring ability could put pressure on the Knights, who have averaged only 64.1 points scored in their recent games. The Knights will need to find ways to improve their offensive output if they hope to compete in this matchup.

In terms of previous meetings, there are no records provided in the block, which means this game will mark a fresh encounter between these two teams. The absence of historical context adds an element of unpredictability to the fixture.

Injury updates are not mentioned in the block, so both teams will presumably field their full rosters. This is crucial as both squads will want to start the season strong, and any missing key players could significantly impact their performance.

The betting market has set the spread at Illinois -39.5, according to DraftKings, with a total of 156.5 points for the game. The over odds are listed at -115.0, while the under odds are at -105.0, indicating that the market expects a high-scoring affair, reflective of Illinois's offensive capabilities.

As for the conditions, the game will take place indoors at the State Farm Center, providing a controlled environment for both teams to showcase their skills. Fans can expect an exciting atmosphere as the Illini look to leverage their home court advantage.

Viewers should watch for Illinois's offensive strategies, particularly how they utilize their scoring prowess against a Knights team that has struggled defensively. Additionally, how Fairleigh Dickinson responds to the pressure of playing on the road will be a key aspect to observe. With both teams eager to start the season on a positive note, this matchup promises to be a compelling opener.

Odds

Book	Spread	Total	Moneyline
DraftKings	ILL -40.5	156.5 o -115 / u -105	Fairleigh Dickinson Knights — · Illinois Fighting Illini —

What these prices pay on $100 · What these numbers mean

Leaders

PointsAndrej Stojakovic20Illinois Fighting Illini
AssistsEthan Brown7Illinois Fighting Illini
ReboundsQuentin Coleman10Illinois Fighting Illini
PointsDavid Jevtic13Fairleigh Dickinson Knights
AssistsJR Jacobs2Fairleigh Dickinson Knights
ReboundsDavid Jevtic6Fairleigh Dickinson Knights

Recent form

Illinois Fighting Illini

Last 10: 5-5Streak L183.8 scored · 73.3 allowed per game3-3 at home

L88-91vs Wisconsin BadgersMar 13
W78-72at Maryland TerrapinsMar 8
W80-54vs Oregon DucksMar 4
L70-84vs Michigan WolverinesFeb 28
L94-95at UCLA BruinsFeb 22
W101-65at USC TrojansFeb 19
W71-51vs Indiana HoosiersFeb 15
L90-92vs Wisconsin BadgersFeb 11
L82-85at Michigan State SpartansFeb 8
W84-44vs Northwestern WildcatsFeb 5

Fairleigh Dickinson Knights

Last 10: 4-6Streak L464.1 scored · 67 allowed per game1-4 away

L61-70at Mercyhurst LakersMar 5
L60-74at Long Island University SharksFeb 28
L59-76at Le Moyne DolphinsFeb 27
L77-84vs New Haven ChargersFeb 22
W60-59at Chicago State CougarsFeb 20
L57-63vs Central Connecticut Blue DevilsFeb 14
W66-59vs Saint Francis Red WolvesFeb 13
W55-52vs Mercyhurst LakersFeb 7
W74-58vs Stonehill SkyhawksFeb 6
L72-75at Wagner SeahawksJan 31

Standings

Team	Overall	Games behind	In conference
Stonehill	1-0	-	0-0
Chicago State	0-0	-	0-0
Wagner	0-0	-	0-0
Central Connecticut	0-1	-	0-0
Fairleigh Dickinson	0-1	-	0-0
Le Moyne	0-1	-	0-0
Long Island University	0-1	-	0-0
Mercyhurst	0-1	-	0-0
New Haven	0-1	-	0-0
Illinois	1-0	-	0-0
Indiana	1-0	-	0-0
Maryland	1-0	-	0-0
Michigan	1-0	-	0-0
Michigan State	1-0	-	0-0
Nebraska	1-0	-	0-0
Penn State	1-0	-	0-0
Wisconsin	1-0	-	0-0
Iowa	0-0	-	0-0
Minnesota	0-0	-	0-0
Northwestern	0-0	-	0-0
Ohio State	0-0	-	0-0
Oregon	0-0	-	0-0
Rutgers	0-0	-	0-0
UCLA	0-0	-	0-0
USC	0-0	-	0-0
Washington	0-0	-	0-0
Purdue	0-1	-	0-0

Box score

Stat	Fairleigh Dickinson Knights	Illinois Fighting Illini
Field goals	17-61	46-83
Field goal %	28	55
Three-pointers	5-33	19-51
Three-point %	15	37
Free throws	6-11	9-16
Free throw %	55	56
Rebounds	21	65
Offensive rebounds	3	22
Defensive rebounds	18	43
Assists	8	30
Steals	4	7
Blocks	4	4
Turnovers	12	7
Team turnovers	0	0
Technical fouls	0	0
Technical fouls, total	0	0
Flagrant fouls	0	0
Points off turnovers	4	21
Fast-break points	2	22
Points in the paint	22	54
Fouls	15	14
Largest lead	0	75
Lead changes	0	0
Time in front	0	98

How the scoring went

1st Half20-67Blake Fagbemi makes 24-foot three point jumper (Quentin Coleman assists)
2nd Half20-69Tomislav Ivisic makes layup (Ethan Brown assists)
2nd Half20-72Quentin Coleman makes 25-foot three point jumper (Andrej Stojakovic assists)
2nd Half20-75Quentin Coleman makes 24-foot three point jumper (Zavier Zens assists)
2nd Half23-75David Jevtic makes 25-foot three point jumper (Travis Torain assists)
2nd Half23-77Quentin Coleman makes layup (Ethan Brown assists)
2nd Half23-79Ethan Brown makes 3-foot dunk
2nd Half23-80Quentin Coleman makes free throw 1 of 2
2nd Half26-80Vophcy Prophete makes 26-foot three point jumper (David Jevtic assists)
2nd Half26-82Stefan Vaaks makes layup (Andrej Stojakovic assists)
2nd Half26-84Andrej Stojakovic makes layup
2nd Half28-84Bol Agu makes 11-foot jumper (Ras Elijah Godbolt assists)
2nd Half28-87Lucas Morillo makes 24-foot three point jumper (Ethan Brown assists)
2nd Half29-87Bol Agu makes free throw 1 of 2
2nd Half30-87Bol Agu makes free throw 2 of 2
2nd Half30-90Stefan Vaaks makes 25-foot three point jumper (Jason Jakstys assists)
2nd Half30-92Ethan Brown makes layup (Jason Jakstys assists)
2nd Half30-94Zavier Zens makes layup (Stefan Vaaks assists)
2nd Half30-96Jason Jakstys makes layup
2nd Half31-96David Jevtic makes free throw 2 of 2
2nd Half31-98Andrej Stojakovic makes 2-foot dunk (Stefan Vaaks assists)
2nd Half31-101Landon Davis makes 25-foot three point jumper (Blake Fagbemi assists)
2nd Half33-101Travis Torain makes 3-foot dunk (Pavle Stosic assists)
2nd Half33-104Blake Fagbemi makes 23-foot three point jumper (Stefan Vaaks assists)
2nd Half36-104Diing Maiwen makes 24-foot three point jumper (JR Jacobs assists)
2nd Half36-105Stefan Vaaks makes free throw 1 of 2
2nd Half36-106Zavier Zens makes free throw 1 of 2
2nd Half36-107Zavier Zens makes free throw 2 of 2
2nd Half39-107Diing Maiwen makes 26-foot three point jumper (Ras Elijah Godbolt assists)
2nd Half39-108Lucas Morillo makes free throw 1 of 2
2nd Half39-109Lucas Morillo makes free throw 2 of 2
2nd Half41-109Pavle Stosic makes 15-foot jumper
2nd Half41-111Lucas Morillo makes layup
2nd Half42-111JR Jacobs makes free throw 1 of 2
2nd Half43-111JR Jacobs makes free throw 2 of 2
2nd Half43-113Blake Fagbemi makes layup
2nd Half43-115Lucas Morillo makes layup
2nd Half45-115JR Jacobs makes layup
2nd Half45-118Landon Davis makes 23-foot three point jumper (Lucas Morillo assists)
2nd Half45-120Quentin McCoy makes layup

Win probability

Above the line favours Illinois Fighting Illini, below favours Fairleigh Dickinson Knights.