LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Keaton Wagler scored 28 points and No. 9 Illinois won its 11th straight game, beating No. 5 Nebraska 78-69 on Sunday in the first matchup of top-10 teams the Cornhuskers have hosted.
The Fighting Illini (19-3, 10-1 Big Ten), who haven't lost since falling 83-80 at home to Nebraska on Dec. 13, held the Huskers to four field goals in the first 13 minutes of the second half.
Nebraska (20-2, 9-2) lost its second straight. The Huskers were beaten on the road Tuesday by another top-10 opponent, No. 3 Michigan, ending their 24-game win streak dating to last season.
Jake Davis finished with 13 points for Illinois, Tomislav Ivisic scored 12 and David Mirkovic had 10.
Braden Frager returned for Nebraska after missing the previous two games with an ankle injury and scored 20 points. Pryce Sandfort added 14 points, Sam Hoiberg had 13 and Jamarques Lawrence scored 10.
Nebraska hit 11 of 20 3-pointers before halftime to lead 39-33 at the break. But the Huskers made only four 3s in the second half against a tightened Illinois defense.
The Illini outscored Nebraska 18-8 to open the second half. A 3-pointer by Wagler with 13:05 left put Illinois ahead 49-47, a lead it did not relinquish. Wagler hit another 3 with 6:45 remaining to cap a 10-0 run that made it 63-52.
The Huskers trailed by at least seven points the rest of the way.
While Illinois made nine 3-pointers to 15 for Nebraska, the Illini dominated at the free-throw line, outscoring the Huskers 21-4. Illinois also had a 10-point edge in the paint and a 40-27 advantage in rebounds.
Illinois: Hosts Northwestern on Wednesday.
Nebraska: Visits Rutgers on Saturday.
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Nebraska forward Berke Büyüktuncel (9) drives against Illinois center Zvonimir Ivisic (44) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026, in Lincoln, Neb. (AP Photo/Bonnie Ryan)
Illinois forward David Mirkovic (0) drives past Nebraska forward Pryce Sandfort (21) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game, Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026, in Lincoln, Neb. (AP Photo/Bonnie Ryan)
SAN DIEGO (AP) — Justin Rose became the first wire-to-wire winner at Torrey Pines in 71 years, starting with a six-shot lead and never letting anyone get any closer to him Sunday as he closed with a 2-under 70 to win the Farmers Insurance Open.
Rose opened with a 62 on the North course at Torrey Pines and really never let up all week, playing even better on the South course that has hosted two U.S. Opens. He wound up breaking the 72-hole tournament record at 23-under 265, one better than Tiger Woods in 1999. George Burns also shot 266 in 1987.
“Sorry, T-dub, if you're watching,” Rose said.
That was his only real challenge, smaller goals to keep him pushing — he wanted to increase his lead each day, and he was aware of the tournament record. He got both.
Tommy Bolt in 1955 is the only other player to lead from start to finish without ties at Torrey Pines.
The 45-year-old from England said he would not be complacent, and that much was evident when Rose went out in 33, holing a 35-foot birdie putt on the par-5 ninth that turned the back nine — all day, really — into what looked like a peaceful walk on the public course along the Pacific Ocean.
The tournament had one of its best weeks of weather, even by San Diego standards. The only thing lacking was drama, which was just fine with Rose.
This was little more than a battle for second and that was a tie. Si Woo Kim (69), Ryo Hisatsune (69) and Pierceson Coody (66) shared runner-up honors, a consolation prize worth $726,400. For Coody, it also is likely to get him into a pair of $20 million signature events to end the West Coast Swing.
Brooks Koepka finished his return to the PGA Tour after defecting from LIV Golf with familiar cheers on the ninth green when he tapped in a birdie putt for a 70. There were some 300 people around the green, most of them shouting, “Welcome back, Brooks.”
He headed to Phoenix later Sunday for the loudest event in golf. “I love the chaos,” Koepka said.
Rose, who also won at Torrey Pines in 2019, now has 13 career titles on the PGA Tour. He moves to No. 3 in the world, his highest ranking in nearly seven years. Even for all he has accomplished, from a U.S. Open to an Olympic gold medal to seven Ryder Cup appearances, he has not stopped putting in the work to stay among the elite in golf.
“I still believe there's good stuff in front of me,” Rose said.
He thought his performance at Torrey Pines in 2019 was among his best, and this was better. It might have been more meaningful, too. His longtime caddie, Mark Fulcher, was hospitalized recovering from heart surtery in 2019.
“Now he's got one for himself,” Rose said.
This version corrects that Rose goes to No. 3 in the world ranking
AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf
Justin Rose, of England, celebrates on the 18th green after winning the Farmers Insurance Open golf tournament Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026, at Torrey Pines in San Diego. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy)
Justin Rose, of England, chips to the fourth hole of the South Course at Torrey Pines during the final round of the Farmers Insurance Open golf tournament Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy)
Justin Rose, of England, celebrates on the 18th green after winning the Farmers Insurance Open golf tournament Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026, at Torrey Pines in San Diego. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy)
Justin Rose, of England, hits out of a bunker on the 14th hole of the South Course at Torrey Pines during the final round of the Farmers Insurance Open golf tournament Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy)
Justin Rose, of England, waves to the gallery on the 15th green of the South Course at Torrey Pines during the final round of the Farmers Insurance Open golf tournament Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy)
