GREENVILLE, S.C. — The University of Pennsylvania men’s basketball team saw its season end Thursday night with a decisive 105-70 loss to the third-seeded University of Illinois in the first round of the NCAA Tournament at BSW Arena. The defeat concludes a promising season for the Quakers, finishing with an 18-12 record, and marks the end of the road for a team that won the 2026 Ivy League tournament.
The Fighting Illini (25-8) were dominant from the start, controlling the boards and the paint, ultimately proving too much for Penn to overcome. Illinois will advance to the second round of the tournament on Saturday, where they will face 11th-seeded VCU, who upset sixth-seeded North Carolina 82-78 in overtime earlier in the evening, according to ESPN. Details of the VCU-North Carolina game are available on ESPN.
While Penn showed flashes of potential, particularly early in the game, Illinois’ size and relentless pressure ultimately dictated the outcome. The Quakers faced a significant rebounding disadvantage, being outrebounded 48-25, with the Illini securing 20 offensive rebounds and converting those opportunities into 29 second-chance points. This disparity in rebounding proved crucial in Illinois building and maintaining a substantial lead throughout the contest.
Illinois Dominates the Boards and the Paint
The Illini’s dominance wasn’t limited to rebounding. They likewise outscored Penn 44-24 in points in the paint, consistently attacking the basket and capitalizing on their size advantage. Illinois effectively turned eight Penn turnovers into 19 points, while the Quakers managed only four points off of the three Illini turnovers—the fewest turnovers forced by Illinois all season. This difference in efficiency in converting possessions proved to be a major factor in the final score.
David Mirkovic led the Illini with a commanding performance, scoring 29 points and grabbing 17 rebounds, eight of which were on the offensive end. Freshman Keaton Wagler also contributed significantly, finishing with 18 points, seven rebounds, and seven assists. Kylan Boswell, Tomislav Ivisic, and Ben Humrichous each added 12 or more points, showcasing the Illini’s balanced offensive attack.
Zanoni Leads Penn in Final Tournament Appearance
Despite the loss, Michael Zanoni led the Quakers with 20 points, marking his seventh game this season reaching the 20-point threshold. Senior Cam Thrower added 14 points, continuing a strong finish to his collegiate career, having scored 44 points in his final three games. Zanoni’s player profile is available on the Penn Athletics website.
Junior TJ Power, who had missed Wednesday’s practice due to illness, played nearly 30 minutes and contributed six points on a pair of three-pointers. Sophomore guard AJ Levine led the team with four assists, adding five points and three rebounds. Penn played without leading scorer Ethan Roberts, who traveled with the team but was unable to play due to an injury.
Early Lead Quickly Dissipates for the Quakers
Penn started the game strong, with early baskets from Zanoni and Thrower giving them a brief 4-0 lead. Whereas, Illinois quickly responded, scoring nine of the next 11 points to take a lead they would never relinquish. A series of three-pointers from Wagler and Mirkovic fueled a 14-3 run for the Illini, extending their lead to 26-13.
The Quakers attempted to rally, going on a 9-0 run sparked by Zanoni and Lucas Lueth to close the gap to 26-22. However, Illinois quickly regained control, scoring 11 of the next 13 points to widen the margin again. A three-pointer by Power just before halftime helped to minimize the damage, but Penn still trailed 40-30 at the break.
Second Half Sees Illinois Pull Away
Zanoni hit two early three-pointers in the second half, briefly bringing Penn within nine points, but Illinois responded with a dominant run, scoring 14 of the next 16 points to extend their lead to 61-40. Illinois continued to build on their advantage, eventually pushing their lead to as many as 40 points before settling on the final margin of 35.
Despite the final score, the 2025-26 season represented a step forward for the Penn Quakers men’s basketball program, culminating in an Ivy League tournament championship and an NCAA Tournament appearance. The team, under first-year head coach Fran McCaffery, finished with an 18-11 overall record and a 9-5 record in Ivy League play, as detailed on Wikipedia.
Looking ahead, the focus will be on building upon this season’s success and continuing to develop the program under Coach McCaffery’s leadership. The team will undoubtedly glance to return to the NCAA Tournament in the coming years.
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