Illinois asserted its dominance over Texas Rio Grande Valley, winning 87-73 at the State Farm Center. The Fighting Illini, now 17-3, were led by Andrej Stojakovic's impressive 24-point, 6-rebound outing. Stojakovic's performance set the tone for Illinois, which built a significant lead in the first half and never looked back.
At halftime, Illinois held a commanding 42-31 lead, thanks in large part to Stojakovic's 12 first-half points. The Fighting Illini's offense was clicking on all cylinders, with Mihailo Petrovic and Zvonimir Ivisic also making significant contributions. Petrovic added 12 points, while Ivisic chipped in with 10 points and 7 rebounds. Illinois's balanced attack proved too much for Texas Rio Grande Valley to handle.
Texas Rio Grande Valley, now 10-11, was paced by Kye Dickson's 21 points and 5 rebounds. Dickson's efforts were valiant, but ultimately not enough to overcome the deficit. Filip Brankovic added 15 points and 5 rebounds for the Vaqueros, but Illinois's depth and talent proved too great.
The second half saw Illinois continue to pull away, with the Fighting Illini outscoring Texas Rio Grande Valley 45-42. While the Vaqueros made a push to close the gap, Illinois's lead was never seriously threatened. The Fighting Illini's 14-point margin of victory was a reflection of their superior play.
This matchup was always expected to be a mismatch, given the significant disparity in the teams' net rankings. Illinois, ranked 6th, hosted Texas Rio Grande Valley, which sits at 169th. The outcome was never in doubt, but the performance of both teams will have implications for their respective tournament chances.
For Illinois, this win, although expected, is still a Quadrant 4 victory, which may not significantly boost their resume but does help to avoid a potentially damaging loss. The Fighting Illini want to build on this performance as they navigate the rest of their schedule. With their strong record and high net ranking, Illinois is well-positioned for a strong tournament run.
In contrast, Texas Rio Grande Valley can take some solace in the fact that this was a Quadrant 1 game for them, despite the loss. The Vaqueros' ability to compete with a top-10 team like Illinois will be a valuable experience as they look to improve their own tournament chances. However, with a record of 10-11, Texas Rio Grande Valley must string together some wins to get back into the tournament conversation. For now, the Vaqueros will have to regroup and refocus on their upcoming games.