Illinois Routs Fairleigh Dickinson by 75
Illinois set a Big Ten record for three-point attempts and a program record for threes made in a 120-45 season-opening win.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Basketball
Illinois defeated Fairleigh Dickinson 120-45 in its regular season opener. The 75-point margin is the largest win in Illinois program history.
Why it matters
The lopsided result and record-setting shooting display marked a strong start to the season for the Illini. The 51 three-point attempts set an all-time Big Ten mark, reflecting a heavy perimeter approach.
Illinois made 19 threes on 51 attempts, a program record for makes and an all-time Big Ten record for attempts. Andrej Stojakovic and Stefan Vaaks each scored 20 points, while Quentin Coleman posted 13 points and 10 rebounds.
The players
Andrej Stojakovic
Stojakovic is an Illinois guard who scored 20 points in the season-opening win over Fairleigh Dickinson.
Stefan Vaaks
Vaaks is an Illinois player who matched Stojakovic with 20 points in the season-opening rout of Fairleigh Dickinson.
Quentin Coleman
Coleman is an Illinois forward who recorded 13 points and 10 rebounds in the season-opening win.
The details
Illinois opened the game on an 11-0 run and later produced a 24-0 run late in the first half. David Mirkovic and Lincoln Williams did not play in the game.
Timeline
Nov. 2, 2026: Illinois defeats Fairleigh Dickinson 120-45 in its regular season opener.
Thursday, Nov. 5, 7:30 p.m.: Illinois hosts Penn.
The Tech Race
Illinois's 51-attempt, 19-make game sets a new Big Ten benchmark for three-point volume, extending the conference's record book. The output reflects a broader shift toward high-volume perimeter shooting in college basketball.
Illinois's record three-point volume could shape how opposing defenses prepare for its perimeter attack in upcoming games. Fantasy managers tracking Stojakovic, Vaaks, and Coleman should note the balanced scoring output in the opener.
The takeaway
Illinois's opener shows how a high-volume three-point approach can produce both record-setting totals and a lopsided margin. Watching whether that shooting holds against conference competition will be the key test.
What happens next
Illinois hosts Penn on Thursday, Nov. 5, at 7:30 p.m.
Further reading
Explore more Basketball coverage for context on Illinois's opening-night rout.
