Illinois Vs Ucla: No. 10 Illini Fall on OT Buzzer-Beater at Pauley Pavilion
In the illinois vs ucla meeting on Saturday night, No. 10 Illinois squandered a massive first-half advantage and fell 95-94 on a buzzer-beating layup at Pauley Pavilion on February 21, 2026. The loss came after an intense second half and overtime thriller that featured a record-breaking night for Keaton Wagler and a game-winning play by Donovan Dent.
Illinois Vs Ucla — How the Game Unfolded
Los Angeles' Pauley Pavilion hosted the contest that saw Illinois lead by as many as 23 points in the first half before UCLA chipped away and forced overtime. The Illini's early surge included a 20-0 run that turned a 13-10 edge into a 33-10 advantage just past the midway point of the first half.
UCLA trimmed the deficit before intermission with an 8-2 closing run, cutting Illinois' lead to 50-43 at the break. Out of the break Illinois again pushed the lead into double figures, but a 13-2 UCLA run tied the game at 56-56 with 14: 45 remaining in regulation. The remainder of the second half featured nine additional ties, and Wagler's free throws with 19 seconds left sent the game to overtime.
Wagler's Record Night and the Overtime Twist
Keaton Wagler led the Illini with 19 points, a game-high eight rebounds (including six offensive) and a team-leading six assists. Wagler entered the contest with 490 career points and eclipsed the 494-point freshman season mark with a layup at the 16: 38 mark of the second half; that previous mark had been set in 1998-99 and was tied last season.
Wagler scored 16 of his 19 points in the second half and overtime. He also grabbed an offensive rebound and converted the putback with just under five seconds left in overtime to put Illinois ahead 94-93. On the ensuing possession, UCLA inbounded to Donovan Dent, who raced up the floor and wove through Illinois' defense in 4. 9 seconds to score the game-winning layup as time expired.
Statline: Five Illini in Double Figures
- Keaton Wagler: 19 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists
- Tomislav Ivisic: 16 points, 6 rebounds
- Ben Humrichous: 15 points, including a career-best five 3-pointers
- Kylan Boswell: 13 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists
- Zvonimir Ivisic: 11 points
Four of Humrichous' five triples came during that 20-0 run which established Illinois' early dominance. The balanced scoring helped produce five Illini in double figures on the night.
Context: Close Losses and Conference Implications
Illinois is now 22-6 overall and 13-4 in Big Ten play. This defeat marks the third straight overtime loss to conference foes over the last two weeks, and the Illini's four Big Ten losses have come by a combined total of nine points. The narrow margins underline how tightly contested Illinois' conference slate has become.
Next Up: Home Showdown With Top-Ranked Michigan
The Illini return home to a sold-out State Farm Center on Friday to host No. 1 Michigan, which is listed at 25-2 overall and 15-1 in Big Ten play. Tipoff is set for 7 p. m. CT (8 p. m. ET) on a national broadcast. The quick turnaround and the close nature of Illinois' recent losses frame the upcoming game as a critical moment for the program.
Recent headlines have labeled the result an upset, and the illinois vs ucla contest will be remembered for Wagler's freshman record and Dent's last-second drive that decided a 95-94 overtime finish. Details in this recap are drawn from the game's official recap; additional context is unclear in the provided context.
