Keaton Wagler's historic night jars the memory of some great Illinois performances

Keaton Wagler's eruption for 46 points against No. 4 Purdue on Saturday was nothing short of legendary for the Illinois basketball program.

After all, Wagler tied the second-highest scoring output in the 121-year history of the Illini while setting new freshman records for points and made three-pointers. The true freshman guard went 13-of-17 from the field and 11-of-13 from the line to carry Illinois over the finish line in the hostile confines of Mackey Arena.

If that isn't enough history-making for you, Wagler's historic performance marked the most points ever scored in a road win over a top 10 team. It solidified him as a rising star in college hoops and plastered him all over the history books in Champaign.

Performances like this don't come around often, which got me thinking about other iconic nights that have defined Illini basketball history.

Dave Downey's 53 points vs Indiana (February 16, 1963)

Canton, Illinois, native and Illini basketball legend, Dave Downey, exploded for a program-record 53 points in a losing effort against the Hoosiers of Indiana. This is a mark that still stands today, 63 years later, and he did it without the three-point line. Pretty impressive.

Downey filled up the stat sheet on this day, making 21 of 38 shots and pulling down 20 rebounds. Remarkably, even with his effort, Illinois was unable to pull off the victory, falling 103-100 in a classic border battle.

Even though they lost this one, the Orange and Blue finished the regular season 19-5 (11-3), led by Downey, who averaged 19.8 points and 9.8 rebounds. He was also named the team MVP at the conclusion of the season, an award he won for the third consecutive year. He was inducted into the Illinois Athletics Hall of Fame in 2018, and his jersey hangs from the rafters of State Farm Center.

His single-game points record has stood the test of time, surviving eras of evolving rules and talent. Even today, with three-point lines and shot clocks, no one has touched 53 points, making it a benchmark for greatness in Champaign.

Andy Kaufmann's 46 points vs Wisconsin-Milwaukee (December 3, 1990)

Junior guard Andy Kaufmann lit up the scoreboard with 46 points in a double-overtime thriller against the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. The craziest part about this game is that he wasn't even the leading scorer that night. UW-M guard Von McDade outpaced Illinois with 50 points of his own.

Kaufmann's first two years at Illinois were unremarkable. He barely saw the floor his freshman year but got a front row seat to watch Illinois go 31-5 and make their fourth ever Final Four appearance. In his sophomore year, he cracked the starting lineup and played 23.5 minutes per game but still struggled to make an impact.

In 1990, with a freshman Deon Thomas by his side, Kaufmann broke out. Averaging over 21 points a game, Kaufmann was a pure scorer who could do it from all three levels. This game against Wisconsin-Milwaukee was a perfect example of that.

He hit four of the six threes he took, got to the free throw line on seven different occasions, and scored 15 times on 27 shots. Kaufmann also grabbed 11 rebounds and dished out five assists. An all-time performance that showed everyone Kaufmann had arrived.

Brandon Paul's 43 Points vs #5 Ohio State (January 10, 2012)

In a season-defining upset over No. 5 Ohio State, Brandon Paul delivered a career-high 43 points, including eight three-pointers as part of an efficient 11-of-15 clip. He also collected four clutch blocks that helped tip the scales in an all-time effort.

This game, and Paul's performance, offered a shining moment in an otherwise disappointing season as Illinois finished just two games above .500 at 17-15 and missed the NCAA tournament. Also, Bruce Weber was fired at the end of the season, closing the book on his nine-year run in Champaign-Urbana.

Paul is remembered as a bright spot in a time when Illinois basketball was going through a rough patch. It had been six seasons since the magical run in 2005, and fans were searching for that next star. Paul stepped up and became that guy, and this legendary game cemented that legacy.

Terrance Shannon Jr.'s 40 points vs Nebraska (March 16, 2024)

In the latest installment on this list, we take you to the 2024 Big Ten Tournament Semifinals, where Terrance Shannon Jr. led the Illini to a 98-87 win over Nebraska with 40 points. Shannon was relentless in a come-from-behind win, shooting 50% on 22 shots, including five three-pointers.

Illinois would go on to win the Big Ten Tournament for the fourth time, and the second under Brad Underwood. They would make the Elite Eight for the first time since 2005, and this win over Nebraska was pivotal on that run, as the team was starting to click at the right time.

Not only was this a huge game on the court for Shannon, but it had to feel good as he had been dealing with off the court distractions as well, and while it never really seemed to affect his game, this one proved that his sole focus was on basketball.

Shannon was a major part of reviving the program's national relevance, and Keaton Wagler is making sure we stay there.