- Matchup: UTRGV Vaqueros vs Illinois Fighting Illini
- Date: Monday, November 24, 2025
- Venue: State Farm Center, Champaign, IL
- Broadcast: ESPN+
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The Illinois Fighting Illini (4-1) are set to clash with the UTRGV Vaqueros (2-2) at the State Farm Center this Monday.
In their previous game, the UTRGV Vaqueros decisively defeated Southwestern Adventist, ending with a score of 110-53. The Vaqueros recorded only 8 personal fouls, while Southwestern Adventist’s fouls totaled 16. They sank 9 of their 23 attempts from beyond the arc. Southwestern Adventist converted 6 of their 8 free throws, achieving a shooting percentage of 75.0%. The team secured 17 rebounds (5 offensive and 12 defensive) but did not register any blocks. In terms of assists, Southwestern Adventist managed 11 while also recording 4 steals. On defense, UT Rio Grande limited their opponents to a shooting percentage of 35.2%, allowing 19 successful shots out of 54 attempts. They also made 28 assists, forced 17 turnovers, and stole the ball 11 times. The Vaqueros dominated the boards,totaling 46 rebounds, 18 of which were offensive. From the charity stripe, they hit 19 of 23 free throws for an 82.6% success rate. Overall, UT Rio Grande achieved a field goal percentage of 52.9% (37 of 70) and converted 17 of their 36 three-point attempts.
A standout performer in this matchup was Koree Cotton, who showcased an impressive shooting percentage of 66.7%, finishing with 18 points on 6-of-9 shooting, alongside 3 rebounds and 2 assists in 18 minutes of play.
The Vaqueros come into this game with a season record of 2-2, averaging 87.8 points per game (ranking 76th in Division I), and shooting at a remarkable 50.2% from the field. Their three-point shooting stands at 46.2% (49 of 106), while they hit 68.9% of their free throw attempts. Collectively, UT Rio Grande secures 35.3 rebounds and has distributed 74 assists, placing them 149th nationally in assists per game. They average 11.8 turnovers and commit 19.8 fouls per game.
On the defensive front, the Vaqueros force an average of 14.8 turnovers each game while committing about 14.5 fouls. Opponents are shooting 37.6% from three-point range, and UT Rio Grande ranks 242nd nationally for points allowed per game at 76.5. They have faced opponents’ shooting percentages of 43.6% (105 of 241) and are conceding 35.8 rebounds per game collectively. This season, they rank 176th in the nation for assists surrendered, allowing 60 to date.
In their last appearance, the Illinois Fighting Illini fell to Alabama, 90-86. They allowed Alabama to grab 35 rebounds (including 9 offensive), and the Illini shot 36.1% from three-point territory with 13 baskets out of 36 attempts. From the free throw line, they converted 17 out of 23 attempts (73.9%). Defensively, the Illini let Alabama score 30 of their 66 attempts, yielding a 45.5% shooting percentage. By the end of the game, the Illini had a field goal percentage of 42.5%, making 31 of 73 shots. For three-pointers, they achieved a rate of 34.4% with 11 successful shots from 32 attempts and converted 13 of their free throws (59.1%). Alabama committed 25 fouls, giving the Fighting Illini 22 free throw opportunities. Illinois turned the ball over 10 times while recording 7 steals. They managed to collect 21 defensive and 12 offensive rebounds, summing up to 33 total rebounds for the game.
Andrej Stojakovic was a key contributor for the Fighting Illini in that matchup, scoring 26 points on an impressive 68.8% shooting (11 of 16) and securing 3 rebounds in 30 minutes, though he did not record any assists.
The Fighting Illini have established a record of 4-1 for this season. Offensively, they are shooting 47.8% from the field, which ranks them 103rd in Division I. Throughout the season, Illinois has accumulated 477 points (averaging 95.4 points per game) and retrieves 47.0 rebounds per outing. They dish out assists 14.4 times per game (208th in college basketball) and turn the ball over 10 times on average. The Illini commit 13.2 fouls per game and boast a free throw success rate of 75.6%.
On defense, Illinois allows 28.6% shooting from three-point range (38 of 133), while opponents convert 79.0% of their free throw attempts. The team allows 12.4 assists and 29.2 rebounds per game, placing them 141st and 29th nationally. The Fighting Illini rank 155th in college basketball for points allowed, averaging 71.4 per game. They force an average of 8.0 turnovers per game, and opposing teams shoot 40.5% against them (ranking 118th nationally).
Who’s favored to win tonight’s NCAA matchup against the spread?
Prediction: Bet on UT Rio Grande
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