illinois vs usc: Illini run roughshod as Trojans suffer 101-65 home blowout
Illinois delivered a statement performance Wednesday night (ET), rolling into USC’s arena and leaving with a 101-65 victory that laid bare the Trojans’ thin margins for error. USC’s hopes for solidifying an NCAA tournament bid took a hit as Illinois dominated the boards, pushed the pace and forced a host team that never really found its footing.
A star fought through illness but couldn’t spark a comeback
Alijah Arenas, the Trojan freshman whose recent burst of form had energized USC, battled illness in the days leading up to the matchup and still insisted on playing. He mustered eight points in 18 minutes before collapsing onto the bench midfirst half, drenched in effort but clearly not at full strength. Teammates praised his resolve — “That takes real courage, ” said Jacob Cofie — but Arenas’ diminished output and a tweaked knee moment left USC with far less offensive lift than it has enjoyed in recent weeks.
Even with Arenas on the floor early, USC struggled to execute. The Trojans produced just one fast-break point and shot a meager 25% inside the arc, problems that Illinois exploited repeatedly. Cofie led USC with 14 points and Ezra Ausar added 11, but no other Trojan reached double figures in a game that tilted decisively away from the hosts before halftime.
Illini dominance in fundamentals decided the night
Illinois (22-5, 13-3) turned the contest into a clinic in tempo and physicality. The Illini won the rebounding battle 41-30, repeatedly securing extra possessions and converting those opportunities into points. While their standout freshman was kept largely in check — he finished with 10 points and four assists — the rest of the roster supplied timely baskets and consistent defensive pressure.
The margin of defeat marked USC’s largest under its current coach in two seasons and was the first time the Trojans had surrendered 100-plus points since 2019. Illinois didn’t let up even late; an alley-oop finish from big man Tomislav Ivisic pushed the visitors into triple digits, sparking a raucous reaction from a crowd dominated by blue-and-orange supporters.
USC coach Eric Musselman was blunt after the game: “We were not good enough tonight. We’ve got to get better in all aspects. ” The blunt assessment underscores the scope of work the Trojans face as they enter a critical stretch of the regular season with five games remaining, including two matchups against a struggling crosstown rival.
What this means for USC’s bubble picture and next steps
The loss amplifies questions about consistency for a USC team that has oscillated between promising stretches and flat performances. With a record sitting at 18-8 overall and 7-8 in conference play, the Trojans can ill afford more nights where fundamentals fall short. Rebounding, interior shooting and transition scoring were all liabilities against Illinois, and those are areas opponents will look to exploit again.
USC’s immediate priorities are clear: get healthier, tighten the defensive glass and regain the offensive aggression that produced recent wins. The team’s remaining schedule features only one top-25 opponent, but margins in March are small and Thursday’s box score will be replayed in the minds of players and staff as a warning. “It’s been the way our season has gone, ” Musselman added, acknowledging a pattern that requires correction if the Trojans hope to make meaningful postseason noise.
For Illinois, the road win reinforced its status as a conference heavyweight. For USC, the scoreboard was a reminder that every detail matters: effort, health and execution combined to produce a result that will be used as a measuring stick in the days ahead.
