CHAMPAIGN, Il. — Brad Underwood may have preferred a postgame shot and a beer after his 14th-ranked Illini outlasted No. 11 Texas Tech , 81-77, but he had to settle for popcorn (his usual) and cough drops ('tis the season).

That might not be an ideal combination, but the Andrej Stojakovic and Kylan Boswell pairing sure might be. Texas Tech All-American JT Toppin may have been the best player on the floor, but the offices of Stojakovic & Boswell thrived in its first true test of the 2025-26 campaign. Boswell poured in 22 points, but it was his defense that proved to be the story of the game. He turned off Texas Tech star point guard Christian Anderson 's water before pivoting to fronting, grappling and tangling with Toppin, who had blowtorched anyone and everyone in the first six

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