Illinois defense dominated Houston 65-55 in the South Region semifinals, advancing to its 11th Elite Eight appearance. Star freshman David Mirkovic led with 14 points and 10 rebounds, while teammate Keaton Wagler added 13 points and 12 rebounds. The Cougars shot just 34% overall, with Kingston Flemings scoring 11 points on 4-of-10 shooting. Illinois exploded for a 17-0 run in the second half, building a 44-26 lead.

This marks the first time two freshmen teammates combined for double-doubles in a tournament game since 1972-73. The Illini will face ninth-seeded Iowa on Saturday in a battle for the Final Four berth. Brad Underwood's program continues its resurgence, reaching the Elite Eight for the second time in three seasons.