CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — In a thrilling matchup, Desmond Claude delivered a standout performance for Southern California, contributing a season-high 31 points as the Trojans clinched an 82-72 victory over No. 13 Illinois on Saturday.
Wesley Yates III added 15 points, showcasing an impressive shooting accuracy by making 7 of 8 attempts from the floor, while Rashaun Agee supported the effort with 13 points and eight rebounds for Southern California, who now holds a record of 10-6 overall and 2-3 in the Big Ten conference.
On the other side, Illinois, whose record now stands at 12-4 with a 4-2 Big Ten mark, saw their five-game winning streak come to an end. Key contributors included Ben Humrichous with 15 points, along with Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn and Tre White, who each finished with 11 points.
However, the Illini’s leading scorer, Kasparas Jakucionis, was absent for the second consecutive game due to a forearm injury sustained on January 5 against Washington. Illinois faced challenges on offense, particularly in the absence of their primary scoring and assist source.
Takeaways from the game highlight that Illinois has struggled out of the gate in recent contests without Jakucionis. They initially fell behind by six points to Penn State before ultimately securing a 91-52 victory. Against USC, they encountered a nine-point deficit early on, and despite their efforts, they were unable to find their rhythm, resulting in a 7 of 32 shooting rate from three-point range.
Meanwhile, the Trojans, despite their limited trips to the free-throw line—where they converted 9 of 11 attempts compared to Illinois’ 19 of 21—maintained a superior shooting percentage of 52% against the Illini’s 37%. USC also dominated the boards, winning the rebounding battle 37-34, despite Illinois entering the match boasting the highest national average of 45.9 rebounds per game.
A pivotal moment in the game came with 8:46 remaining, as the score was tied at 57. USC seized the opportunity to ignite a 13-3 run, moving ahead 70-60 with just 5:12 left on the clock, leaving Illinois unable to mount a serious challenge thereafter.
Statistically, Claude shot 12 of 20 from the field and was perfect from the free-throw line, completing all seven attempts. Agee also shone brightly, hitting three three-pointers—an impressive feat considering he had only made two all season prior to this game and six throughout his entire career.
Looking ahead, Southern California’s next challenge will be hosting Iowa on Tuesday night, while Illinois prepares for an away game against Indiana on the same evening.
