Illinois basketball forward Ben Humrichous may have just had one of the best 24 hours in the history of the program.
This past Monday, the former Evansville Purple Ace was a part of a dominating 91-48 Braggin' Rights win over the Missouri Tigers in St. Louis. In 23 minutes of play off the bench, Humrichous was able to record nine points, five rebounds, and five assists on 3-of-5 shooting from deep.
Humrichous was a key part of Illinois' success against their non-conference rivals, helping to lead Brad Underwood's bunch to their third win in their last four meetings. But the day after the game, the festivities would continue with Humrichous saying "I do" to former Illini Adalia McKenzie.
Congrats Ben and Adalia on your wedding! Wishing you both a lifetime of love, happiness, and teamwork💍🧡 pic.twitter.com/BekJuHsLho
— Brad Underwood (@CoachUnderwood) December 23, 2025
When asked about the connection the two of them share, Humrichous shared a heartfelt message with WCIA News, saying...
"She's been such a blessing to me," Humrichous said. "We could talk about basketball stuff, about the moments after tough games when you go home or even the celebration, she's one of my biggest fans." "Off the court, she encourages me, and she points me to Jesus when I'm having a hard time, I mean, she's incredible."
This was a big moment for Humrichous, McKenzie, and the entire Illinois famILLy. Not only did they get to celebrate a dominating 43-point victory over Missouri, but the team also got to celebrate one of their own tying the knot.
Illinois' excitement for Ben Humrichous was on another level this week
The best part about being on a team like the Illini is that when one person wins, you know about it. If something good happens to you, then you have a whole family of people who are there to cheer you on.
That is exactly what the Illini did on Monday for Humrichous. During the postgame press conference, head coach Brad Underwood talked about how the team kept encouraging Humrichous to keep shooting while also having some fun with the pre-wedding nerves.
This entire week has been a special one for Illinois, and it proves that "famILLy" isn't just a saying to sell t-shirts. This team really cares about one another and truly gets excited for the successes of their teammates.
Congratulations to the happy couple! Here is to many years of wedding bliss for you two. And as always, I-L-L