Homefield — March Madness

VCUNo. 11

IllinoisNo. 3

FinalCBS

35.4%

22.6%

3PT

REB

AST

48.3%

37.5%

3PT

REB

AST

Since 1985, 3-seeds are 39-20 vs 11-seeds (66.1%).

Illinois Smothers VCU's Upset Bid With Size and Efficiency

Illinois eliminated 11-seed VCU 76-55, with a 13-point rebounding margin and 48.3% shooting from the field doing the damage.

Andrej Stojakovic was the quietest 21-point performance of this tournament. He finished 7-of-12 from the field, drew nine free throw attempts, and did his work almost entirely in the mid-range and at the rim -- the kind of game that never shows up on a highlight reel but never lets a defense recover either.

Tomislav Ivisic posted a double-double -- 14 points, 11 rebounds, three of them offensive -- and his presence on the glass was the structural advantage Illinois returned to all night. Keaton Wagler added 14 points and hit two threes, giving the Illini a third credible scoring option that VCU simply had no answer for.

VCU shot 35.4% from the field and 22.6% from three, going 7-of-31 from beyond the arc, and while Terrence Hill Jr. gave them 17 points on 37 minutes of effort, that workload reflects a team leaning on one player rather than a balanced attack. Illinois out-rebounded VCU 45-29, controlled the second-chance margin, and by the time the second half opened up, the 21-point final margin was less a blowout than a confirmation of the gap between these two rosters.

Game Story

The Illinois Fighting Illini rolled to a dominant 76-55 victory over the VCU Rams.•Andrej Stojakovic led the charge with 21 points.•Illinois blew the game open with a 41-27 2nd half.•Illinois was far more efficient, shooting 48.3% compared to just 35.4% for VCU.•Illinois had 15 assists compared to VCU's 8, showing better ball movement.•Illinois won the rebounding battle decisively, out-rebounding VCU 45-29.•Illinois got to the line 17 times, converting 11 (65%).•Illinois's bench outscored VCU's 19-9.•The Illinois Fighting Illini rolled to a dominant 76-55 victory over the VCU Rams.•Andrej Stojakovic led the charge with 21 points.•Illinois blew the game open with a 41-27 2nd half.•Illinois was far more efficient, shooting 48.3% compared to just 35.4% for VCU.•Illinois had 15 assists compared to VCU's 8, showing better ball movement.•Illinois won the rebounding battle decisively, out-rebounding VCU 45-29.•Illinois got to the line 17 times, converting 11 (65%).•Illinois's bench outscored VCU's 19-9.•