Andrej Stojakovic scored 21 points as No. 3 seed Illinois defeated 11th-seeded VCU 76-55 on Saturday in Greenville, South Carolina, advancing to the Sweet 16 for the second time in three years under head coach Brad Underwood.
The Fighting Illini, now with a record of 26-8, showcased a strong performance, with Tomislav Ivisic contributing 14 points and 11 rebounds, while Keaton Wagler also added 14 points. Illinois will next face No. 2 seed Houston, which won its game against Texas A&M 88-57.
Game Highlights
Illinois took advantage of a significant height advantage, limiting VCU to 35% shooting and dominating the boards with a 45-29 rebounding margin. The Illini also recorded five blocked shots during the game.
Terrence Hill Jr. led VCU with 17 points, but the team faced an early setback when Nyk Lewis suffered a sprained right ankle in the opening minute, allowing Illinois to quickly establish a 20-8 lead.
Despite this, VCU rallied with a series of three-pointers, temporarily taking a 28-26 lead, fueled by Hill’s 12 points in the first half. However, Illinois regained control late in the half, with Stojakovic scoring all nine points during a critical 9-0 run to close the period.
Second Half Dominance
The second half saw Illinois maintain their momentum, extending their lead to 17 points early on after capitalizing on VCU turnovers. A high-flying dunk from Zvonimir Ivisic and a three-pointer from Kylan Boswell contributed to this surge.
With just four minutes left in the game, Illinois’s lead ballooned to 23 points, igniting celebrations among their supporters.
Looking Ahead
Illinois holds a 3-2 all-time record against Houston, but the Cougars secured a victory in their last matchup, winning 68-53 in the second round of the 2022 NCAA Tournament.