Illinois Fighting Illini Dominate Southern California Trojans 101-65 Behind Stojakovic's 22 Points

The Illinois Fighting Illini dominated the Southern California Trojans 101-65 at the Galen Center, a 36-point margin that far exceeded the 9.6-point prediction made by CHD Scout. This game was never in doubt, as Illinois shot out to a 54-32 lead after the first 20 minutes, with 7 different players scoring at least 5 points in the first half. The Illini's hot start was fueled by 60% shooting from the field, including 7-12 from three-point range, as they built a lead that would only grow in the second half. USC, on the other hand, struggled to find their rhythm, shooting just 38% from the field and committing 10 turnovers in the first half.

As the game wore on, Illinois continued to pour it on, outscoring USC 47-33 in the second half to seal the blowout win. The Illini's 101 points were the most they've scored in a game since a 108-48 win over Alabama State back in November, and their 36-point margin of victory was the largest since a 39-point win over Northwestern in January. USC, meanwhile, saw their 5-game streak of scoring at least 75 points come to an end, as they were held to their lowest point total since a 65-63 loss to Iowa back in January. The Trojans had been averaging 78 points per game over their last 5 contests, but were unable to get anything going against the Illini's stifling defense.

The star of the show for Illinois was Andrej Stojakovic, who scored 22 points on 8-12 shooting, including 4-6 from three-point range. Stojakovic was joined in double figures by David Mirkovic, who added 14 points, and Jake Davis, who chipped in 12 points and 7 rebounds. For USC, Ezra Ausar was the lone bright spot, scoring 15 points and grabbing 11 rebounds in a losing effort. Ausar's performance was impressive, but it wasn't enough to overcome the Trojans' lackluster team defense, which allowed Illinois to shoot 57% from the field for the game. Jacob Cofie added 14 points for USC, but the Trojans were unable to get any consistent scoring from their supporting cast.

The CHD Scout prediction of an Illinois win by 9.6 points was correct, but the margin was far larger than expected.

The reason for the larger-than-expected margin was Illinois's ability to shut down USC's offense, holding the Trojans to just 38% shooting from the field and forcing 17 turnovers. The Illini's defense was stifling, and USC was unable to get anything going against it. Illinois, on the other hand, was able to get whatever they wanted on offense, shooting 57% from the field and committing just 8 turnovers. The Illini's recent form had been strong, with a 3-2 record over their last 5 games, including wins over Indiana and Nebraska. USC, meanwhile, had been trending in the opposite direction, with a 3-2 record over their last 5 games, but with losses to Ohio State and Iowa.

The win for Illinois was their 22nd of the season, and it solidified their position as one of the top teams in the country. The Illini are now 22-5 on the season, with a 4 NET ranking and a 3-2 record over their last 5 games. USC, on the other hand, fell to 18-8 on the season, with a 47 NET ranking and a 3-2 record over their last 5 games. The loss was a significant setback for the Trojans, who had been hoping to build some momentum heading into the final stretch of the season. Instead, they'll have to regroup and try to bounce back from a tough loss.

The win for Illinois didn't change much in terms of their tournament picture, as they were already a lock for the NCAA Tournament. However, it did help to solidify their position as a potential 1-seed, and it gave them a boost in the NET rankings. For USC, the loss was a significant blow to their tournament hopes, as they fell to 18-8 on the season and saw their NET ranking drop to 47. The Trojans are still in the mix for an at-large bid, but they'll need to win some big games late to feel secure. With just a few weeks left in the regular season, the Trojans must regroup and refocus if they want to make a push for the tournament. The Illini, on the other hand, can continue to build on their strong season, with a chance to make some noise in the tournament come March.

The 36-point margin of victory for Illinois was a reflection of their strength and depth, as they were able to dominate the game from start to finish. The Illini's 101 points were the most they've scored in a game since a 108-48 win over Alabama State back in November, and their 57% shooting from the field was the highest they've shot all season. USC, on the other hand, was unable to get anything going, shooting just 38% from the field and committing 17 turnovers. The Trojans must bounce back from this tough loss, but for now, they can only look at the film and try to learn from their mistakes. The Illini, meanwhile, can continue to build on their strong season, with a chance to make some noise in the tournament come March. With 22 wins already under their belt, the Illini are poised to make a deep run in the tournament, and this win over USC was just another step in that direction.

HEADLINE: Illinois Fighting Illini Dominate Southern California Trojans 101-65 Behind Stojakovic's 22 Points SUBHEADLINE: The Illini's 36-point margin of victory was the largest since a 39-point win over Northwestern in January, and it solidified their position as one of the top teams in the country, with a 4 NET ranking and a 22-5 record.