David Mirkovic has 19 points, 14 rebounds to lead No. 17 Illinois to a
113-55 win over Jackson State
[November 04, 2025]
By STEVE STEIN
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) — David Mirkovic scored 19 points
and grabbed 14 rebounds on Monday night as No. 17 Illinois opened the
season with a 113-55 win over Jackson State.
Mirkovic, a 6-foot-9 freshman forward from Montenegro, is one of four
new international players on the Illinois roster this season. |
Illinois' Kylan Boswell drives against Jackson State's Jalen Tatum
during an NCAA college basketball game, Monday, Nov. 3, 2025, in
Champaign, Ill. (AP Photo/Craig Pessman) |
|
Ben Humrichous and Tomislav Ivisic each had 21 points, Keaton
Wagler had 18, and Jake Davis had 13 for Illinois, which was the
highest scoring team in the Big Ten last year. Zvonimir Ivisic
had nine rebounds.
Devin Ree scored 19 points and Daeshun Ruffin added 12 for the
Tigers, who shot 30.6% from the field. Ruffin was the top scorer
in the Southwestern Athletic Conference last season and the
conference’s pre-season player of the year.
The Illini made 17 3-pointers and outrebounded Jackson State
61-19 despite missing four players with injuries — Brandon Lee,
Andrej Stojakovic, Ty Rodgers and Mihailo Petrovic.
A 17-point run early in the game gave Illinois a 60-27 halftime
lead. The Illini had 10 3-pointers in the first half.
Jackson State is playing nine of its first 10 games on the road.
During the stretch, the Tigers will face seven teams that played
in the NCAA Tournament last season and five preseason Top 25
teams, including No. 2 Houston.
Up next
Jackson State: At No. 11 Louisville on Thursday night.
Illinois: Home vs. Florida Gulf Coast on Friday night.
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