Illinois Defeats Nebraska in Key NCAAB Matchup
Sunday, February 1, 2026, 4:00 PM ET · Pinnacle Bank Arena
Illinois Fighting Illini 78, Nebraska Cornhuskers 69, 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 Illinois Fighting Illini vs Nebraska Cornhuskers?
Illinois Fighting Illini beat Nebraska Cornhuskers 78-69 at Pinnacle Bank Arena on February 1, 2026.
Who was favored in Illinois Fighting Illini vs Nebraska Cornhuskers?
Nebraska Cornhuskers were the favorite at DraftKings, moneyline -115 (about 53% implied). The underdog won.
The Illinois Fighting Illini secured a significant victory over the Nebraska Cornhuskers with a final score of 78-69 at the Pinnacle Bank Arena. This matchup was noteworthy not only for its competitive nature but also for the implications it had on both teams' standings in the NCAAB landscape. With this win, Illinois improved its record to 20-3, while Nebraska fell to 20-3, marking a crucial moment in the season for both programs.
Entering the game, Nebraska had a strong home record of 20-2, and they had been performing well recently, boasting a 9-1 record over their last ten games. They averaged 76.8 points scored while allowing 62.3 points per game during this stretch. However, they were coming off a loss to the Michigan Wolverines, which snapped a previous winning streak. In contrast, Illinois was riding a ten-game winning streak, with an impressive record of 19-3. They averaged 81.8 points scored and allowed 64.5 points in their last ten games, showcasing their offensive prowess.
At home, Nebraska had been formidable, with a perfect home record of 5-0 in their last five games, while Illinois had also been strong on the road, holding a 4-0 record in their recent away games. This matchup was a clash of two teams that had previously met twice, with Illinois winning both encounters. Their last meeting took place on December 13, 2025, where Illinois edged out Nebraska with a score of 83-80.
In terms of injuries, the block did not specify any key players missing from either side, which meant both teams were likely at full strength for this important contest. The betting lines reflected the competitive nature of the game, with DraftKings listing Nebraska as a slight favorite with a spread of -1.5 and a total set at 154.5. The moneyline odds were -115 for Nebraska and -105 for Illinois, indicating a closely contested matchup.
The conditions at the Pinnacle Bank Arena were typical for a winter evening, with both teams eager to perform in front of their home crowd. As the game progressed, viewers could watch for key scoring plays that defined the outcome. Notable moments included David Mirkovic making crucial free throws late in the game, extending Illinois' lead. Additionally, Rienk Mast contributed significantly with a layup and a jumper that kept Nebraska within striking distance but ultimately fell short.
In the end, Illinois' ability to execute under pressure and maintain composure in critical moments led them to victory, while Nebraska will need to regroup and address their recent struggles to remain competitive in the upcoming fixtures.
Odds
| Book | Spread | Total | Moneyline |
|---|---|---|---|
| DraftKings | NEB -1.5 | 154.5 o -110 / u -110 | Illinois Fighting Illini -105 · Nebraska Cornhuskers -115 |
Leaders
- PointsBraden Frager20Nebraska Cornhuskers
- AssistsSam Hoiberg6Nebraska Cornhuskers
- ReboundsSam Hoiberg6Nebraska Cornhuskers
- PointsKeaton Wagler28Illinois Fighting Illini
- AssistsKeaton Wagler5Illinois Fighting Illini
- ReboundsTomislav Ivisic8Illinois Fighting Illini
Recent form
Nebraska Cornhuskers
Last 10: 9-1Streak L176.8 scored · 62.3 allowed per game5-0 at home
- L72-75at Michigan WolverinesJan 28
- W76-57at Minnesota Golden GophersJan 24
- W76-66vs Washington HuskiesJan 22
- W77-58at Northwestern WildcatsJan 17
- W90-55vs Oregon DucksJan 14
- W83-77at Indiana HoosiersJan 10
- W72-69at Ohio State BuckeyesJan 5
- W58-56vs Michigan State SpartansJan 3
- W86-55vs New Hampshire WildcatsDec 31
- W78-55vs North Dakota Fighting HawksDec 22
Illinois Fighting Illini
Last 10: 10-0Streak W1081.8 scored · 64.5 allowed per game4-0 away
- W75-66vs Washington HuskiesJan 30
- W88-82at Purdue BoilermakersJan 24
- W89-70vs Maryland TerrapinsJan 22
- W77-67vs Minnesota Golden GophersJan 17
- W79-68at Northwestern WildcatsJan 15
- W75-69at Iowa HawkeyesJan 11
- W81-55vs Rutgers Scarlet KnightsJan 9
- W73-65at Penn State Nittany LionsJan 4
- W90-55vs Southern JaguarsDec 29
- W91-48vs Missouri TigersDec 23
Standings
| Team | Overall | Games behind | In conference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Michigan | 37-3 | - | 19-1 |
| Nebraska | 28-7 | 4 | 15-5 |
| Michigan State | 27-8 | 4 | 15-5 |
| Illinois | 28-9 | 4 | 15-5 |
| Wisconsin | 24-11 | 5 | 14-6 |
| Purdue | 30-9 | 6 | 13-7 |
| UCLA | 24-12 | 6 | 13-7 |
| Ohio State | 21-13 | 7 | 12-8 |
| Iowa | 24-13 | 9 | 10-10 |
| Indiana | 18-14 | 10 | 9-11 |
| Minnesota | 15-18 | 11 | 8-12 |
| USC | 18-14 | 12 | 7-13 |
| Washington | 16-17 | 12 | 7-13 |
| Rutgers | 14-20 | 13 | 6-14 |
| Northwestern | 15-19 | 14 | 5-15 |
| Oregon | 12-20 | 14 | 5-15 |
| Maryland | 12-21 | 15 | 4-16 |
| Penn State | 12-20 | 16 | 3-17 |
Box score
| Stat | Illinois Fighting Illini | Nebraska Cornhuskers |
|---|---|---|
| Field goals | 24-54 | 25-59 |
| Field goal % | 44 | 42 |
| Three-pointers | 9-30 | 15-35 |
| Three-point % | 30 | 43 |
| Free throws | 21-26 | 4-5 |
| Free throw % | 81 | 80 |
| Rebounds | 40 | 27 |
| Offensive rebounds | 11 | 6 |
| Defensive rebounds | 29 | 21 |
| Assists | 15 | 17 |
| Steals | 3 | 5 |
| Blocks | 6 | 2 |
| Turnovers | 8 | 8 |
| Team turnovers | 1 | 1 |
| Technical fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Technical fouls, total | 0 | 0 |
| Flagrant fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Points off turnovers | 9 | 11 |
| Fast-break points | 3 | 8 |
| Points in the paint | 28 | 18 |
| Fouls | 10 | 19 |
| Largest lead | 11 | 7 |
| Lead changes | 9 | 9 |
| Time in front | 51 | 35 |
How the scoring went
- 2nd Half40-42Andrej Stojakovic makes layup (Tomislav Ivisic assists)
- 2nd Half41-42Andrej Stojakovic makes free throw 1 of 1
- 2nd Half41-44Pryce Sandfort makes 11-foot floating jump shot
- 2nd Half44-44Keaton Wagler makes 26-foot three point jumper
- 2nd Half46-44Tomislav Ivisic makes layup
- 2nd Half46-47Sam Hoiberg makes 25-foot three point jumper (Berke Buyuktuncel assists)
- 2nd Half49-47Keaton Wagler makes 25-foot three point jumper (Andrej Stojakovic assists)
- 2nd Half51-47David Mirkovic makes layup (Keaton Wagler assists)
- 2nd Half51-50Braden Frager makes 24-foot three point jumper (Rienk Mast assists)
- 2nd Half52-50Keaton Wagler makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half53-50Keaton Wagler makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half53-51Braden Frager makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half53-52Braden Frager makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half56-52Jake Davis makes 23-foot three point jumper (Tomislav Ivisic assists)
- 2nd Half58-52David Mirkovic makes driving layup
- 2nd Half59-52Keaton Wagler makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half60-52Keaton Wagler makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half63-52Keaton Wagler makes 26-foot three point jumper
- 2nd Half63-55Braden Frager makes 25-foot three point jumper (Rienk Mast assists)
- 2nd Half65-55Andrej Stojakovic makes layup (Tomislav Ivisic assists)
- 2nd Half66-55Andrej Stojakovic makes free throw 1 of 1
- 2nd Half66-57Jamarques Lawrence makes layup
- 2nd Half68-57Keaton Wagler makes 8-foot jumper
- 2nd Half68-59Sam Hoiberg makes layup
- 2nd Half68-60Sam Hoiberg makes free throw 1 of 1
- 2nd Half69-60Keaton Wagler makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half70-60Keaton Wagler makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half70-62Sam Hoiberg makes layup
- 2nd Half71-62Keaton Wagler makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half72-62Keaton Wagler makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half73-62Keaton Wagler makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half73-64Sam Hoiberg makes layup
- 2nd Half74-64David Mirkovic makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half75-64David Mirkovic makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half75-66Rienk Mast makes layup
- 2nd Half75-67Rienk Mast makes free throw 1 of 1
- 2nd Half76-67Keaton Wagler makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half76-69Rienk Mast makes 9-foot jumper (Sam Hoiberg assists)
- 2nd Half77-69Andrej Stojakovic makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half78-69Andrej Stojakovic makes free throw 2 of 2
Win probability
Above the line favours Nebraska Cornhuskers, below favours Illinois Fighting Illini.
Venue
- Pinnacle Bank ArenaLincoln, NE
- Attendance15513
- OfficialsMike Reed, Paul Szelc, Doug Sirmons
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