COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Keaton Wagler scores 23 points as No. 13 Illinois wins its Big Ten opener against Ohio State, 88-80. David Mirkovic adds 22 points and eight rebounds for the Fighting Illini, who have 35 road wins in league play since 2019-20, the most in the conference. Bruce Thornton leads Ohio State with 34 points, including 24 in the first half. Ohio State trailed 79-72 with just over two minutes left but couldn’t close the gap. Illinois made 29 of 32 free throws, with Wagler, Mirkovic and Andrej Stojakovic going a combined 23 of 24 from the line.
