{
  "$type": "site.standard.document",
  "bskyPostRef": {
    "cid": "bafyreib5za37w6iqvgpglbp3k6dta7sqfc7zbmuywdbjqwmuvzomhyzd2i",
    "uri": "at://did:plc:ha7wpngv4f2qwrk5hta4ktbb/app.bsky.feed.post/3mhhofiqgbqy2"
  },
  "coverImage": {
    "$type": "blob",
    "ref": {
      "$link": "bafkreihffase3edc3wb2zulv767r6j64rcdx6fsiq7woydd6wjfdcljzai"
    },
    "mimeType": "image/jpeg",
    "size": 245314
  },
  "path": "/college-sports/2026/03/19/david-mirkovic-illinois-penn-ncaa-tournament-keaton-wagler-kylan-boswell-ben-humrichous-tomislav-ivisic",
  "publishedAt": "2026-03-20T04:17:27.498Z",
  "site": "https://chicago.suntimes.com",
  "textContent": "<p>GREENVILLE, S.C. — David Mirkovic had 29 points and 17 rebounds, and No. 3 seed Illinois dominated No. 14 seed Penn 105-70 on Thursday night in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.</p><p>Keaton Wagler added 18 points, seven assists and seven rebounds for the Fighting Illini (25-8), who moved on to face No. 11 VCU in the second round on Saturday.</p><p>Kylan Boswell had 13 points, while Ben Humrichous and Tomislav Ivisic each chipped in with 12 as Illinois shot 50% from the field and made 15 3-pointers while outrebounding the much smaller Quakers 48-25.</p><p>Michael Zanoni finished with 20 points on 9-of-18 shooting for Penn (18-12), the Ivy League champion.</p><p>TJ Power, who scored 44 points in the Quakers' overtime win over Yale that got them into the tournament, finished with six points on 2-of-8 shooting in 30 minutes after missing the previous two practices with an illness that left his status for the game uncertain.</p><p>Mirkovic set the tone for Illinois with a huge first half, with his 17 points and 10 rebounds helping the Fighting Illini build a 40-30 lead.</p><p>Illinois didn't let off the gas in the second half, stretching the lead to 23 with 10 minutes remaining after Mirkovic came up with a steal and fed Zvonimir Ivisic for a transition alley-oop dunk.</p><p>After the game, the Quakers walked in unison over toward their fans and applauded them. The fans applauded and cheered back, with one yelling, “Next year, boys!”</p><p><b>Up next</b></p><p>Illinois beat VCU 62-46 in the only meeting between the schools in 2016.<br></p>",
  "title": "David Mirkovic leads No. 3 Illinois to 105-70 rout of No. 14 Penn",
  "updatedAt": "2026-03-20T04:17:27.498Z"
}