Illinois Defeats No. 4 Purdue 88-82: Keaton Wagler’s Historic 46-Point Performance

Freshman guard Keaton Wagler delivered one of the season’s most stunning performances on Saturday, January 24, 2026, scoring a career-high 46 points to lead No. 11 Illinois to an upset victory over No. 4 Purdue 88-82 at Mackey Arena in West Lafayette, Indiana. Wagler’s explosive display—featuring nine 3-pointers on near-perfect shooting—marks one of the most eye-opening freshman performances in recent college basketball history.

Update (Jan 24, 2026): Final game stats confirmed. Illinois improves to 17-3 overall, 8-1 Big Ten. Purdue falls to 17-3, 7-2 Big Ten.

What Happened

No. 11 Illinois traveled to West Lafayette and pulled off one of the Big Ten’s most impressive road upsets of the season, defeating No. 4 Purdue 88-82 in a ranked matchup featuring two of the nation’s top offensive teams. The victory snapped Illinois’ eight-game winning streak (Illinois remained undefeated, now 17-3 overall) and marked a second consecutive loss for Purdue.

Freshman guard Keaton Wagler was the catalyst, scoring 46 points on 13-of-17 shooting overall, 9-of-11 from three-point range, and 11-of-13 from the free-throw line. The performance set multiple school and program records for a freshman and reflected poise rarely seen at the college level in a 19-year-old’s first season.

Key Facts

• Final Score: Illinois 88, Purdue 82

• Keaton Wagler’s Statistics: 46 points (career high), 13-17 FG, 9-11 3PT, 11-13 FT

• Wagler’s First Half: 24 points (including first 14 for Illinois), accounting for 62% of team’s 39-point first half

• Three-Point Volume: Illinois hit 18-of-38 three-pointers; Purdue made 7-of-19

• Braden Smith Performance: 27 points, 12 assists for Purdue (Big Ten leader in assists)

• Support Cast: David Mirkovic added 12 points, 8 rebounds for Illinois

• Purdue Scoring: Trey Kaufman-Renn added 12 points for the Boilermakers

• Illinois Record: Improved to 17-3 overall, 8-1 in Big Ten Conference play

• Purdue Record: Fell to 17-3 overall, 7-2 in Big Ten Conference play

• Historical Context: Wagler’s 46 points are the second-highest in Illinois basketball history, behind only Dave Downey’s 53 points from Canton

Background & Context

Both teams entered Saturday’s matchup with exceptional offensive credentials. Illinois ranked No. 1 nationally in adjusted offensive efficiency (129.4 points per 100 possessions), while Purdue checked in at No. 2 (129.0), according to advanced analytics. Illinois was riding an eight-game winning streak under head coach Brad Underwood, the team’s longest since the 2012-13 season.

Keaton Wagler, a 6-foot-6 freshman guard from Shawnee Mission Northwest High School in Kansas, entered the game averaging 17.5 points per game on 43.5% three-point shooting (50-of-115 attempts). A four-star recruit ranked 143rd overall nationally in the Class of 2025, Wagler led his high school team to back-to-back Kansas Class 6A state championships. His previous career-high scoring game was 23 points.

On the Purdue side, point guard Braden Smith stands as a national fixture. The consensus first-team All-American and Cousy Award winner (best point guard in the nation) was looking to lead the Boilermakers back to form after a 69-67 loss to UCLA. Smith has recorded record-setting assist numbers for Purdue and ranks among the elite playmakers in college basketball.

Why It Matters

Saturday’s result carries multiple implications:

• Freshman Trajectory: Wagler’s 46-point outburst establishes him as a legitimate future NBA prospect and potential national player of the year candidate despite just four months into his college career.

• Big Ten Standings: Illinois’ 8-1 conference record now ranks among the Big Ten’s elite starts. The victory represents a quality Quad 1 win in NCAA Tournament metrics.

• Purdue’s Path: A second consecutive loss signals potential vulnerability for the Boilermakers as they navigate a loaded conference schedule.

• National Narrative: The upset validates Illinois’ top-15 ranking and establishes the Illini as a legitimate Final Four contender despite preseason expectations.

Details & Analysis

Wagler’s performance unfolded with remarkable composure. After Purdue opened the game by matching Illinois shot-for-shot, the freshman guard took over in the opening minutes. Wagler scored Illinois’ first 14 points, employing dazzling stepback jumpers and a difficult crossover dribble to keep the Illini paced with Purdue’s hot start.

Purdue initially countered with strong efficiency. The Boilermakers shot 63% from the field in the first half compared to 43% for Illinois. However, Illinois offset this deficit with superior three-point shooting, hitting 9-of-21 from range while Purdue made 3-of-8. Wagler accounted for 24 of Illinois’ 39 first-half points—a staggering 62% of the team’s scoring.

The second half featured a tense back-and-forth affair. With 45 seconds remaining, Braden Smith’s three-pointer cut Illinois’ lead to 82-80, prompting Wagler to respond with a jump shot 18 seconds later. Smith made two free throws to cut the deficit to two, but Wagler answered with two more free throws to extend the lead to 86-82 with 9.3 seconds left. Purdue then turned the ball over, sealing the upset.

Head Coach Brad Underwood attributed Wagler’s success to his demeanor and basketball instincts. “If you guys didn’t get a good read on Keaton Wagler right there, you missed it because that’s just him. He just plays. He just hoops. There’s nothing that fazes him. He just wants to make the right basketball play. And tonight it happened to be scoring,” Underwood said.

What Happens Next

• Illinois: The Illini host Washington on Thursday, January 30, 2026, at home in a non-conference matchup.

• Purdue: The Boilermakers travel to Indiana on Tuesday, January 28, 2026, for a Big Ten rivalry game at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall.

• Wagler’s Trajectory: The freshman’s 46-point display is expected to intensify NBA scout attention and may accelerate national award consideration.

FAQs

How many points did Keaton Wagler score against Purdue?
Keaton Wagler scored a career-high 46 points on 13-of-17 shooting, including 9-of-11 from three-point range and 11-of-13 from the free-throw line. This is the second-highest single-game scoring total in Illinois basketball history.

What was the final score of Illinois vs Purdue on January 24, 2026?
Illinois defeated Purdue 88-82 in an upset victory at Mackey Arena in West Lafayette, Indiana. The win improved Illinois to 17-3 overall and 8-1 in Big Ten play.

How many 3-pointers did Keaton Wagler make?
Wagler made 9-of-11 three-pointers, setting a new Illinois freshman record for most made three-pointers in a single game. The previous record was eight three-pointers.

What are Braden Smith’s stats in the game?
Braden Smith recorded 27 points and 12 assists for Purdue, continuing his season-long excellence as the nation’s top point guard. Smith is a consensus All-American and Cousy Award winner.

Is Keaton Wagler a freshman?
Yes, Keaton Wagler is an 18-year-old freshman guard from Shawnee Mission Northwest High School in Kansas. He will turn 19 on February 3, 2026. His 46-point performance sets multiple Illinois freshman records.

Sources & References

1. ESPN Game Recap: Illinois 88-82 Purdue (Jan 24, 2026) – https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/recap/_/gameId/401825468

2. FOX Sports: Keaton Wagler Scores 46 Points To Lead No. 11 Illinois Past No. 4 Purdue – https://www.foxsports.com/stories/college-basketball/keaton-wagler-scores-46-points-lead-no-11-illinois-past-no-4-purdue

3. Sports Illustrated: Live Game Coverage – Purdue vs Illinois – https://www.si.com/college/purdue/basketball/live-game-blog-updates-purdue-boilermakers-illinois-fighting-illini-big-ten-basketb

4. Sports Illustrated: Illinois Freshman Keaton Wagler Drops 46 To Stun No. 4 Purdue – https://www.si.com/college-basketball/illinois-freshman-keaton-wagler-drops-46-to-stun-no-4-purdue

5. University of Illinois Official Athletics: #11th-Ranked Illini Visit #4 Purdue Saturday – https://fightingillini.com/news/2026/1/23/mens-basketball-11th-ranked-illini-visit-4-purdue-saturday.aspx

6. Illinois Fighting Illini Official Roster: Keaton Wagler – https://fightingillini.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/keaton-wagler/15216

7. Purdue Official Athletics: Braden Smith Roster Profile – https://purduesports.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/player/braden-smith

8. Wikipedia: Braden Smith (Basketball) – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Braden_Smith_(basketball)

Disclaimer & Last Updated: This article was published on January 24, 2026, and updated with final game statistics. All information reflects official sources including ESPN, FOX Sports, Sports Illustrated, and university official athletics websites. Game scores, player statistics, and records are accurate as of the publication date. For live updates or corrections, please consult official Big Ten Conference or NCAA resources.

Last Updated: January 24, 2026, 11:45 PM ET

Quick Takeaway

Keaton Wagler’s 46-point eruption—the second-highest single-game total in Illinois history—delivered No. 11 Illinois a stunning 88-82 road upset over No. 4 Purdue, cementing the freshman’s status as a legitimate national prospect and reinforcing the Illini’s position as a legitimate Final Four contender in 2026.