Illinois Falls to Alabama in Season’s First Road Game
BIRMINGHAM, AL — The No. 25 Illinois Fighting Illini faced their first road test of the season on Wednesday night, suffering a 100-87 defeat against No. 8 Alabama, marking their first loss of the year, dropping their record to 3-1. Alabama dominated the match from the start, maintaining a lead for nearly 38 minutes.
Illinois struggled significantly in the first half, shooting just 41% from the field and a dismal 28.6% from three-point range, hitting only four of 14 attempts. Meanwhile, Alabama’s Grant Nelson thrived, scoring four of his seven three-pointers in the first half, contributing to the Crimson Tide’s early advantage.
The Illini attempted to rally in the second half, buoyed by freshman Will Riley’s five-for-seven shooting performance, but a hefty first-half deficit ultimately hindered any comeback attempts. Notably, Illinois’ backcourt players shined, with freshman Kasparas Jakucionis aggressively scoring 15 points, including 13 in the first half, and junior Kylan Boswell contributing 17 points, marking his first double-digit game this season. Together, the pair scored 32 points and registered nine assists, indicating potential for offensive growth moving forward.
Despite showcasing a fast-paced game style, Alabama outperformed Illinois in both efficiency and execution, racking up 23 assists compared to just 15 for the Illini. Illinois struggled with turnovers, committing 13 compared to Alabama’s seven, which limited their offensive opportunities.
Free throw shooting proved to be another hurdle for Illinois, as they left 11 points unscored from the line, managing only 68.7% overall this season. As the competition intensifies, focusing on free throw success will be vital for the Illini to capitalize on scoring opportunities in future games.
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Photo credit dailyillini.com