Illinois defeated Cincinnati 105-96 in an exhibition basketball game at Fifth Third Arena on October 17, 2026. The high-scoring matchup featured 31 points and 13 assists from Cincinnati guard Tylen Riley, while Illinois countered with 24 points from Andrej Stojakovic in front of an untelevised audience.
The offensive showcase at Fifth Third Arena laid bare the defensive gaps for both programs ahead of the 2026-27 college basketball season. Brad Underwood’s Illinois squad pushed the pace across 81 possessions, generating 1.313 points per possession while playing without David Mirković. Cincinnati, operating under first-year head coach Jerrod Calhoun and featuring 13 newcomers, kept pace offensively with a 1.215 points-per-possession rate but struggled to contain perimeter shooting and transition play.
Tylen Riley Carries Cincinnati Offense Against Illini Attack
Cincinnati guard Tylen Riley emerged as the focal point of the floor, carving up the opposing defense for a game-high 31 points and 13 assists while logging a 141.5 offensive rating. The Bearcats managed to stay within striking distance through heavy minutes from their rotation, though foul trouble and defensive breakdowns stalled their second-half momentum.
Fifth Third Arena in Cincinnati.Illinois basketball plays Cincinnati in an exhibition game at 4 p.m. CT. The game is not televised.First look at the 2026-27 #Illini. pic.twitter.com/LgeECAAoIo
The Bearcats played without several rotation pieces due to injuries, including Elijah Perryman, Akai Fleming, Javontae Campbell, and Deshaun Vaden. Head coach Jerrod Calhoun pointed to the courage of his makeshift lineup after the final buzzer.
The guy that I’m most proud of outside of Tylen Riley tonight is Eric Mahaffey. For him to come in and fill our point guard position – never have done that ever against, I think, a potential national championship team – took a lot of courage, so yeah.
Jerrod Calhoun, Cincinnati Head Coach
Adlan Elamin added 15 points off the bench for Cincinnati, while Tyler Tejada chipped in 13 points. MJ Collins made his debut after gaining eligibility through an executive order issued by Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, contributing eight points and two rebounds across 26 minutes.
Andrej Stojakovic and Freshmen Fuel Illinois Scoring Output
Illinois leaned heavily on its returning talent and an influx of impact newcomers to secure the road victory. Andrej Stojakovic led the Fighting Illini with 24 points, shooting a perfect 8-for-8 from the free-throw line without attempting a single 3-pointer according to team reporting. Providence transfer Stefan Vaaks contributed 19 points off the bench, and Tomislav Ivisic added 13 points.
Freshman guards also seized the spotlight. Quentin Coleman posted 14 points, eight assists, and seven rebounds. Fellow freshman Ethan Brown earned the start in the backcourt and scored 15 points with five rebounds and two assists.
The Illini shot 14-of-33 from beyond the arc for 42.4%, overwhelming the Cincinnati perimeter defense despite committing 15 turnovers.
Exhibition Context and Upcoming Regular Season Schedules
The matchup served as an early evaluation tool for two programs with contrasting offseason rosters. Illinois entered the exhibition ranked No. 4 in KenPom following a 28-9 campaign and an NCAA Final Four run in the 2025-26 season. Cincinnati used the contest to integrate 13 newcomers after Calhoun took over the program on March 24, 2026. The Bearcats returned just one fifth-year player in Grant Darbyshire while featuring a roster of three fifth-years, six seniors, two juniors, and four sophomores.
Underwood and Calhoun arranged the exhibition based on established connections, including shared representation through agent Bret Just and staff overlap via video coordinator Andrew Bittle and former coach Bob Huggins. Underwood specifically sought out a challenging road test against a high-level Big 12 opponent to evaluate his youthful roster under bright lights.
| Team | Final Score | Shooting From 3-Point | Turnovers | Rebounds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Illinois Fighting Illini | 105 | 14-33 (42.4%) | 15 | 39 |
| Cincinnati Bearcats | 96 | 12-33 | 10 | 32 |
Because the game lacked any television broadcast or video stream, fans relied on live statistics and radio coverage provided through GoBearcats.com. Both teams return to exhibition play before the regular season tips off on November 2, 2026, when Cincinnati hosts American at Fifth Third Arena and Illinois faces FDU at the State Farm Center.
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