Live Game Thread, Updates for Illinois Basketball vs. Baylor Exhibition

Illinois basketball will host Baylor in an exhibition matchup Friday at State Farm Center in Champaign, Illinois. The Illini won their first exhibition last Saturday, a 105-96 road win over the Cincinnati Bearcats. Baylor, too, won its first exhibition, an 82-76 win over preseason No. 1 Florida at a neutral site in Jacksonville, Florida.

The Illini will have to wait at least another game for the 2026-27 debut of preseason All-American forward David Mirkovic (foot), who is expected to key the team's offense. Still, the wealth of individual talent on coach Brad Underwood's roster seems almost endless, as six Illini scored in double figures against a solid defensive club in Cincinnati – including two true freshmen in guards Quentin Coleman and Ethan Brown.

And yet, Baylor represents a step up. Bears guards Kayden and Dylan Mingo and Isaac Williams IV are the type of paint penetrators Illinois has struggled with in recent seasons, and Scott Drew – who led Baylor to a national championship as recently as 2001 – is one of the finest defensive coaches in college basketball. In the Bears' exhibition opener, they held the Gators to 34.7 percent shooting – and 13.8 percent on threes.

Illinois vs. Baylor live score updates

First half

Illinois freshman guard Quentin Coleman drives for a bucket and gets the hoop and the harm, sinking his free throw to cut Baylor's lead to two. Baylor leads 17-15

Isaac Williams IV is torching the Illini right now. On consecutive possessions, Williams twice pulls up for three and hits, then corrals his own miss for a putback to extend Baylor's lead to double digits with 11:25 left in the first half. In just four minutes, Williams has 16 points on 6-for-8 shooting. Baylor leads 26-15

Baylor is digging in on D, but Quentin Coleman takes a dribble handoff and pulls up for three to break into double digits and close the gap. Baylor leads 26-20

After freshman Lucas Morillo scores his first points in an Illini uniform on a corner three, Andrej Stojakovic answered a pair of Baylor buckets in the paint with a six-point individual run of his own – two free throws and a couple of converted drives to the rim. Baylor leads 33-29

Someone needs to pour some cold water on Baylor guard Isaac Williams IV, who hits another three. Illinois' trouble with dynamic opposing guards continue. Possibly unrelated note: All six Illini freshmen have already checked into the game. Baylor leads 36-29

Illinois vs. Baylor stories

• How to Watch Illinois vs. Baylor
• 3 Important Illinois Questions Ahead of Baylor
• Brad Underwood Previews Illinois vs. Baylor
• What Illinois Must Prove Against Baylor

Back like we never left. pic.twitter.com/HYp5BYDefg
— Illinois Men's Basketball (@IlliniMBB) October 23, 2026

Starting lineups

Illinois

G: Quentin Coleman
G: Ethan Brown
G: Andrej Stojakovic
F: Zvonimir Ivisic
C: Tomislav Ivisic

Baylor

G: Kayden Mingo
G: Dylan Mingo
G: Brett Decker Jr.
F: Elijah Williams
C: Justin Bodo Bodo

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