Illinois beats Cincinnati 105-96 in men's basketball exhibition
Six Illini score in double figures in the first of three exhibitions
CHAMPAIGN - Illinois defeated Cincinnati 105-96 in a men's basketball exhibition Saturday at the Bearcats' Fifth Third Arena, according to the official box score. It was the first of three exhibitions before the Illini open the 2026-27 regular season.
Six Illinois players scored in double figures. Andrej Stojakovic led with 24 points and made all eight of his free throws, and Stefan Vaaks added 19 off the bench. Ethan Brown scored 15, Quentin Coleman 14, Tomislav Ivisic 13 and Jake Davis 10. Coleman also had eight assists and seven rebounds.
Illinois shot 36 of 68 from the field, 14 of 33 from 3-point range and 19 of 24 at the line, and outrebounded Cincinnati 39-32. The Bearcats' Tylen Riley had 31 points and 13 assists. The box score lists attendance at 6,347.
The athletic department's recap says a 10-0 run by Coleman, beginning at the 6:04 mark of the second half, gave Illinois a 93-79 lead, and that the team played without preseason All-American David Mirkovic. The recap gave no reason for his absence.
Illinois hosts Baylor in an exhibition at 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 23, at State Farm Center, streamed on B1G+.
Source: Official box score, https://fightingillini.com/sports/mens-basketball/stats/2026-27/cincinnati-exh-/boxscore/29429; Illinois Athletics recap, https://fightingillini.com/news/2026/10/17/mens-basketball-illini-earn-105-96-exhibition-win-at-cincinnati