Illinois Dominates USC in Commanding Victory
In a remarkable display of skill, No. 10 Illinois dominated Southern California with a commanding score of 101-65 in Los Angeles, marking their 14th victory in the last 16 matches. Andrej Stojakovic emerged as the standout player, contributing 22 points and helping to guide a balanced attack with seven Illini players scoring in double figures.
Game Highlights and Performance
The atmosphere was electric as a sea of blue and orange filled the stands for the first matchup between Illinois and USC in LA since 1975. This win improved Illinois’ record to 22-5 overall and 13-3 in the Big Ten, solidifying their position in second place in the conference, just behind No. 1 Michigan.
The Illini built a substantial lead, holding a 22-point advantage at halftime. They came out strong in the second half, outscoring the Trojans 21-10 in a quick burst that featured five successful three-pointers. Stojakovic highlighted this stretch with a steal followed by a thunderous one-handed slam that energized fans in attendance. He showcased efficiency by hitting 6 of 7 shots from the field and converting all nine of his free throw attempts.
In addition to Stojakovic’s performance, David Mirkovic scored 14 points for Illinois, who excelled at the free-throw line, netting 24 out of 26 attempts. The Illini were lethal from beyond the arc, making 13 three-pointers and achieving an overall shooting accuracy of 46%. The raucous visiting fans participated in spirited chants, alternating “I-L-L” with the home crowd’s response of “I-N-I.”
USC’s Struggles and Looking Ahead
For USC (18-8, 7-8), which faced its second consecutive defeat and continues to struggle against ranked opponents (0-4 this season), Ezra Ausar led the effort with 15 points while Jacob Cofie added 14. The Trojans notably played without their second-highest scorer, Chad Baker-Mazara, due to a strained knee, which compounded their difficulties. Additionally, USC struggled with ball control, committing 14 turnovers that allowed Illinois to capitalize and score 22 points off those mistakes.
Looking ahead, Illinois will travel to face UCLA on Saturday, while USC remains in the Pacific time zone for its upcoming Big Ten schedule, starting with a matchup against Oregon this weekend.
