Keaton Wagler scores 22 points, No. 9 Illinois beats Washington 75-66 for 10th straight win

Illinois' forward David Mirkovic (0) drives to the basket during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Washington, Thursday, Jan. 29, 2026, in Champaign, Ill. (AP Photo/Craig Pessman)

By STEVE STEIN Associated Press

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) — 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.

David Mirkovic added 19 points and six rebounds and Ben Humrichous had 14 points for the Illini (18-3, 9-1 Big Ten), who have the longest active win streak in the conference.

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.

Wagler has scored in double figures in 13 straight games and in 18 games overall this season.

Freshman Hannes Steinbach had 15 points and 12 rebounds for Washington (11-10, 3-7), which has lost six of eight.

Wesley Yates III had 13 points and Zoom Diallo had 12 points and 10 assists for the Huskies, who scored the game’s first seven points. The Illini responded with a 10-0 run that put them ahead for good.

Illinois was in front 33-26 at halftime. Washington has led at the half in a Big Ten game only once this season.

The Illini were 11 of 33 from 3-point distance. It was Illinois’ seventh straight game with an least 10 baskets from distance. Humrichous was 4 of 6 from beyond the arc.

Illinois came into the game ranked second nationally in free throw percentage (79.4%) and went 10 for 16 for 62.5% after going 4 of 9 at the line in the first half.

No. 5 Nebraska was the last team to beat Illinois and the only team to beat the Illini this season at the State Farm Center. The Huskers won 83-80 on Dec. 13.

Up next

Washington: At Northwestern on Saturday.

Illinois: At No. 5 Nebraska on Sunday.

___

Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here and here (AP News mobile app). AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball