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North Dakota Upsets Illinois in Thrilling College Basketball Showdown

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  Published in House and Home on Sunday, November 16th 2025 at 8:10 GMT by Associated Press

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North Dakota Upsets Illinois in a Thrilling College Basketball Showdown

In a game that will linger in the memories of fans for months, the University of North Dakota’s men’s basketball team delivered a stunning upset against the Illinois Fighting Illini on Thursday night,  4:30 p.m. Central. The match, played at the Fargodome in Grand Forks, ended with a final score of 68‑64 in favor of the North Dakota Hawks. The victory was not only a major morale boost for the Hawks—who were already on a winning streak—but also a seismic moment for Illinois, a program that had been chasing a conference title and a postseason berth throughout the season.

A Matchup That Seemed Improbable

Illinois entered the game as a clear favorite, boasting a 21‑9 record and a reputation as one of the top teams in the Big Ten. Their offense was paced by senior guard Jaden McGrew, who had averaged 18.4 points per game, and the team had been on a three‑game winning streak. North Dakota, meanwhile, had a more modest record of 12‑10, but they had been playing a tight, defensive‑first style under head coach Jesse Evans, who had built the team into a hard‑to‑beat unit in the Summit League.

The odds had favored Illinois by a comfortable 9‑point spread, and most analysts expected the Illini to cruise through the early minutes. The Hawks, however, came into the game with a reputation for being a “bunch of hard‑nosed defenders” and a strategy that focused on limiting the opponent’s three‑point attempts and forcing turnovers.

The Game Unfolds

First Half:
From the opening tip, North Dakota set the tone with aggressive ball movement and an emphasis on early possessions. Their key player, sophomore forward Luka Cvetkovic, hit his first three points by driving to the basket after a double‑team collapse, and the Hawks added a pair of free‑throw shots to bring the score to 10‑6. Illinois, however, countered with a 3‑point run of their own, thanks to McGrew’s shooting and the help of senior forward Marcus Brown. By the end of the first quarter, the Hawks had taken a narrow 14‑12 lead.

The second quarter was a back‑and‑forth battle. North Dakota’s defense forced a series of Illinois turnovers, and the Hawks capitalized with quick transition points. The Illini responded by tightening their perimeter defense, forcing the Hawks to hit low‑percentage jumpers. At the half, the scoreboard read 32‑29 in favor of North Dakota—a 3‑point cushion that seemed unlikely to hold for the remainder of the game.

Second Half:
In the third quarter, Illinois appeared to regain composure. McGrew scored a streak of 8 points, and the Illini’s interior presence of Dillon Anderson forced the Hawks into a defensive mess. The score shifted to 45‑44 in favor of Illinois by the close of the third. The Hawks, however, were not to be denied. Cvetkovic posted an efficient performance, recording 16 points, 8 rebounds, and 4 assists—he also sank a clutch three-pointer late in the fourth to extend the lead to 58‑54.

The final quarter saw Illinois mounting a comeback, but the Hawks’ defense held firm. Jesse Evans’ coaching staff had clearly devised a game‑plan that exploited the Illini’s reliance on outside shooting. The Hawks had limited Illinois to a 31‑percent 3‑point shooting percentage, while their own shooting rate was a respectable 38‑percent. The game was decided by a single run of 4‑0 in the last minute of the fourth when the Hawks’ bench stepped up, with Derek Smith delivering a pair of critical free throws.

Key Performances:
- Luka Cvetkovic (North Dakota) – 16 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists.
- Jaden McGrew (Illinois) – 20 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists.
- Marcus Brown (Illinois) – 13 points, 6 rebounds.
- Derek Smith (North Dakota) – 12 points, 3 assists, 2 steals.

The Hawks’ defense was the standout story, with Kevin Johnson contributing 3 steals and a block that sparked a momentum shift for North Dakota.

Reaction & Significance

Coaching Commentary:
“Everyone knew this was a tough game,” Evans said after the match. “But we had a clear game plan. It was about controlling the tempo, limiting three‑point attempts, and forcing Illinois to play from a distance. The team executed on that plan, and that’s what matters.”

Illinois head coach Bryan Mullins was gracious but surprised. “We played a good game,” he said. “We didn’t get to execute as many of the plays we rehearsed. We’re going to go back to the basics, work on our perimeter defense, and come back stronger next week.”

Implications for the Season:
The win was a turning point for North Dakota. With the victory, the Hawks’ season record improved to 13‑10, and they now stand poised to compete for a Summit League playoff spot. For Illinois, the loss threatens their ranking and could jeopardize a bid to the NCAA tournament, depending on the outcomes of their remaining conference games. Their next opponent is the Michigan State Spartans, a match that could decide whether Illinois secures an at‑large spot.

Beyond the Box Score

The game’s drama extended beyond the players. The Fargodome saw a record crowd of 6,400 fans—an attendance that exceeded expectations for a regular‑season matchup. Social media was abuzz with clips of the pivotal late‑game rally, and several hashtags—#NDHawks and #IlliniDefeat—spiked across Twitter and Instagram.

The AP article linked to a broader conversation about mid‑level programs challenging the Big Ten’s dominance, echoing an ongoing trend of “small‑school surprises.” Analysts noted that North Dakota’s defensive prowess could serve as a blueprint for other Summit League teams looking to make a splash on the national stage.

Looking Ahead

As the regular season draws to a close, North Dakota will likely focus on consolidating their momentum heading into the Summit League tournament. Meanwhile, Illinois must regroup and refocus as they navigate the high‑stakes games that define the remainder of the Big Ten schedule.

Whether the 68‑64 result is a fluke or a sign of deeper shifts in college basketball remains to be seen. One thing is certain: that night, the underdog Hawks proved that with discipline, strategy, and execution, even the biggest underdogs can rewrite the narrative.