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For the primary time in additional than 20 years, the Illinois men’s basketball crew will nonetheless be dancing when the Ultimate 4 ideas off.
Iowa’s underdog run within the NCAA Tournament ended Saturday with a 71-59 loss to a dominant Illinois crew. Earlier than Illinois may lower down the nets at Houston’s Toyota Middle, a buzzer malfunction brought on a loud, roughly 10-minute delay.
The buzzer initially sounded signaling the tip of a media timeout with just below eight minutes remaining within the first half. The horn continued blaring for about one other seven minutes.
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A referee talks with the scorer’s desk throughout an official’s timeout on account of a damaged shot clock horn through the first half of an Elite Eight recreation between Iowa and Illinois within the NCAA Match Saturday, March 28, 2026, in Houston, Texas. (AP Photograph/Ashley Landis)
Gamers stood on the courtroom able to play for a few minutes earlier than each groups began to heat up because the buzzer continued to sound.
It was lastly silenced, to cheers from the group, however then the principle scoreboard and video display screen that hangs over the center of the courtroom went darkish.
The sport finally resumed with the massive scoreboard nonetheless off. Two smaller scoreboards at every finish of the world have been working.
Freshman guard Keaton Wagler scored 25 factors to assist safe Illinois’ first Ultimate 4 berth since 2005.
Keaton Wagler (23) of the Illinois Preventing Illini dribbles towards Isaia Howard (23) of the Iowa Hawkeyes through the first half within the Elite Eight of the 2026 NCAA Match at Toyota Middle March 28, 2026, in Houston, Texas. (Alex Slitz/Getty Photographs)
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This would be the sixth total journey to the Ultimate 4 for Illinois, which has by no means gained a nationwide title. The Preventing Illini will face both Duke or UConn subsequent week in Indianapolis.
The Related Press contributed to this report.
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