WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Keaton Wagler put on a shooting clinic that will be remembered for years in Big Ten history, pouring in a career-high 46 points to lead No. 11 Illinois to a stunning 88-82 victory over No. 4 Purdue on Saturday night.
The freshman guard was nearly unstoppable, drilling nine 3-pointers and torching one of college basketball’s toughest home courts. Wagler finished an ultra-efficient 13-for-17 from the field, 9-of-11 from beyond the arc, and 11-of-13 at the free-throw line, carrying the Illini in one of the most impressive individual performances of the season.
Illinois improved to 17-3 overall and 8-1 in Big Ten play, while Purdue dropped to 17-3 (7-2) after suffering its second straight loss.
Wagler wasted no time making his presence felt. He scored 24 of Illinois’ 39 first-half points, including the team’s first 14, single-handedly keeping the Illini within striking distance despite Purdue shooting a blistering 63% in the opening half.
While the Boilermakers controlled much of the paint and shot efficiently early, Illinois countered with elite perimeter shooting. The Illini knocked down 18 of 38 three-point attempts, compared to just 7-of-19 from Purdue — a decisive difference in a tightly contested matchup.
Purdue guard Braden Smith delivered a strong all-around performance, finishing with 27 points and 12 assists to lead the Boilermakers. Trey Kaufman-Renn chipped in 12 points, but Purdue struggled to contain Illinois’ spacing and shot-making down the stretch.
The game tightened late in the second half as Smith hit a clutch three-pointer to cut Illinois’ lead to 82-80 with 45 seconds remaining, bringing Mackey Arena to life. But Wagler once again answered the call, calmly knocking down a jumper with 18 seconds left to restore a two-possession cushion.
After Smith made two free throws to trim the margin back to two, Wagler sealed the game at the line, sinking two more free throws with 9.3 seconds remaining. Purdue then turned the ball over on its final possession, ending any hopes of a late comeback.
Illinois received additional support from David Mirkovic, who added 12 points and eight rebounds, helping the Illini stay competitive inside despite being shorthanded in the frontcourt.
The Illini played without reserve center Jason Jakstys, who was sidelined with an injury. They were also missing starting guard Kyle Boswell, who averages 14.3 points per game and is expected to miss at least a month after suffering a fractured bone in his right hand — making Wagler’s performance even more vital.
Despite Purdue’s advantage in overall shooting efficiency early, Illinois’ relentless three-point barrage proved too much to overcome. The Illini finished the night shooting 47% overall and dominated the perimeter, repeatedly stretching Purdue’s defense and opening up critical late-game opportunities.
For Illinois, the win further strengthens its case as a legitimate Big Ten title contender, while Wagler’s breakout performance signals the arrival of a new star on the national stage.
For Purdue, the loss raises concerns after back-to-back defeats, especially with conference play intensifying.
One thing was undeniable by the final buzzer: Keaton Wagler stole the night — and possibly the Big Ten spotlight — with a performance that few freshmen, and even fewer players, could ever replicate.
