Keaton Wagler had 22 points and eight assists and No. 9 Illinois extended its winning streak to 10 games with a 75-66 victory over Washington on Thursday night. The Fighting Illini controlled the matchup at a sold-out State Farm Center in Champaign, with David Mirkovic adding 19 points and six rebounds and Ben Humrichous having 14 points for the Illini (18-3, 9-1 Big Ten).
This 10-game stretch marks a significant milestone for Illinois basketball. The Illini's 10-game winning streak is the longest in Brad Underwood's nine years as coach, and the longest for Illinois since it won 10 in a row to open the 2012-13 season. The team also went undefeated (8-0) in the month of January for the first time since the 2004-05 campaign, showing consistent dominance throughout the month.
The game featured strong performances from Illinois' young core. Wagler has scored in double figures in 13 straight games and in 18 games overall this season. The Illini also impressed from distance, as the Illini have made at least 10 3-pointers in seven straight games. Washington couldn't keep pace, with Hannes Steinbach having 15 points and 12 rebounds for Washington (11-10, 3-7), which has lost six of eight. Illinois faces a big test next with a matchup against No. 5 Nebraska on Sunday.