### Illini Freshman Shines in Dominant Victory over SIUE

In a commanding 90-58 win against SIUE, Illinois basketball showcased a remarkable talent in freshman guard Kasparas Jakucionis. Nearing a historic milestone, Jakucionis ended the game with 12 points, eight rebounds, and an impressive 13 assists, just two rebounds shy of achieving Illinois' first-ever freshman triple-double.

Historically, Illinois has seen only two players record triple-doubles in the first 47 years of tracking assists—Mark Smith in 1979 and Sergio McClain in 2001. However, in recent years, the trend has shifted, with Ayo Dosunmu achieving this feat twice in 2021, followed by Coleman Hawkins in 2023, and Marcus Domask in 2024. Jakucionis’s near-miss hints at future potential to join this elite group.

Despite falling short of the triple-double, Jakucionis' 13 assists tied him with Frank Williams for the Illini freshman record for assists in a single game, a performance sweetened with an extra half-star credit. This achievement also places him fourth for the most assists in a single game by any Illini player.

Moreover, Jakucionis is the first freshman to record a points-assists double-double since Demetri McCamey did so in 2008 and the first to record any form of double-double since Andre Curbelo accomplished this in 2021. Over the last decade, only two other Big Ten freshmen—Aaron Craft and JaQuan Lyle, both in 2015—have notched at least 13 assists in a game.

With his standout performance, Jakucionis has set a high bar for the season and established himself as a significant player to watch for Illinois basketball.