The #10 ranked Illinois Fighting Illini crushed the USC Trojans 101-65 at the Galen Center
USC Trojans #0 Alijah Arenas (G) dribbling to his left while being guarded by a Illinois Fighting Illini defender at the top of the key at the Galen Center. Photo by Carlos Jones/TGSportstv1 February 18, 2026.
LOS ANGELES, CA - Ezra Ausar with 15 points, Jacob Cofie with 14 points, and Alijah Arenas with 8 points, and witness the #10 ranked Illinois Fighting Illini crush the USC Trojans 101-65 at the Galen Center to pick up their 14th win in 16 games.
On the night, the Trojans were outplayed and out-hustled, shot poorly, making just 23 of 62 shots for 37%, while the Fighting Illini made 32 of 62 shots for 52%.
"It's pretty simple," Musselman said. "We were not good enough tonight. We've got to do better in all aspects. Every player, person, and coach in the program has to look in the mirror and ask how we can get better."
The Fighting Illini jumped the Trojans 8-0 after Jake Davis knocked down a three-pointer from the right side of the basket. USC trailed 8-3 after Ezra Ausar was fouled on his made layup, and made his free throw to complete the and one.
Illinois went on a 7-0 run and went up 15-3 after a three-pointer by Ben Humrichous. USC was down 25-12 after a made layup by Jacob Cofie, who was fouled on his attempt, and made his free throw to complete the and one. Cofie jump shot at the top of the key had the Trojans down 32-18.
Kylan Boswell would drive to the basket for a layup to give the Fighting Illini an eighteen-point lead, 39-21, with 5:10 left before halftime. Illinois big man Zvonimir Ivisic got a pass from his teammate Keaton Wagler for a monster two-hand dunk, had their fans standing on their feet as they led 41-24.
Alijah Arenas drove to the basket and scored on a floater that had USC trailing 44-27. The Fighting Illini went up by twenty-one points, 51-30, with two free throws by Wagler. The Trojans Jaden Brownell would drive to the basket for a layup, making the score 52-32, in favor of Illinois.
The Illinois Fighting Illini #2 Andrej Stojakovic (G) going strong to the basket, scored 22 points against the USC Trojans at the Galen Center. Photo by Carlos Jones/TGSportstv1 February 18, 2026.
The Fighting Illini closed out the first half leading at halftime 54-32 after a monster tip-in dunk by Kylan Boswe. Cofie led the Trojans in scoring in the first half with 8 points, and Arenas and Marsh both had 5 points.
Boswell led the Fighting Illini in scoring with 10 points, and Wagler and Humrichous both had 8 points.
In the second half, Illinois led 65-40 with a driving layup by David Mirkovic. USC trailed 72-40 with a floater by Kam Woods with 12:27 left in the game. The Fighting Illini increased their lead to 81-49 with a layup by Keaton Wagler.
Cofie would pull up for a three-pointer that made the score 90-57 in favor of Illinois with 3:55 left in the game. The Fighting Illini would end the game on an 11-8run to get the win, 101-65, and improve their record to (22-5, 13-3 Big Ten), while the Trojans fell to (18-8,7-8, Big Ten).
Stojakovic led Illinois in scoring with 22 points, Mickovic with 14 points, and Jake Davis and Boswell both had 12 points, Humrichous with 11 points, and Tomislav Ivisic and Wagler both with 10 points.
USC has a big game against the Oregon Ducks on Saturday, February 21, at 1 pm, and can’t afford to drop any more games if they are to keep their NCAA Tournament hopes alive, and with the Big Ten Conference Tournament coming up.