CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Much like in its NCAA Tournament matchup last season, No. 3 Illinois ran away against Penn after a close game early, winning 112-70.
The Illini ended the first half on a 30-8 run to take a sizable lead, which never wavered. The offense, led by Andrej Stojakovic’s 25 points, was good, but it was the defense that gave Penn problems. Four steals and seven blocks highlighted an aggressive performance from the Illini on the defensive end.
They were relentless on the perimeter, often getting
in passing lanes and even putting the occasional double team on the Quakers. It certainly messed with the Penn offense, which shot just 29.1% from the field and 10-for-35 from beyond the arc.
It wasn’t as explosive as the game against FDU, but the offense still showed why it’s one of the best in the country. Illinois wasn’t as dynamic from the 3-point line, making 10 compared to the record-breaking 19 against FDU.
However, they didn’t need to rely on the 3-point shot, as the Illini dominated the paint, ending the game with 66 points in the paint. It seemed like Illinois took after Stojakovic with multiple players drawing and-ones on tough layups.
Despite making fewer threes and missing Jake Davis and David Mirkovic, the Illini still managed to score over 100, the second straight game with 100 or more points.
Close early, beat down late
Like their first-round contest last year, the Illini and Quakers were neck-and-neck midway through the first half. It seemed like Penn answered every Illinois triple with one of its own.
However, the Illini defense got into a rhythm, allowing just eight points over the last 10 minutes before halftime. It also limited Penn’s offensive rebounding after allowing seven early in the half, giving up just two in the final 10 minutes.
Illinois was aggressive on defense, racking up six blocks — three of them from Tomislav Ivisic — and two steals in the first 20 minutes.
On the offensive end, Stojakovic looked nearly unstoppable, finishing the half with 21. He scored 11 during Illinois’ 30-8 run to end the first half. Zavier Zens helped out as well, knocking down three of his four 3-point shots.
It went from an Illini run to a dunk contest after back-to-back-to-back dunks from Zvonimir Ivisic, Stojakovic and Stefan Vaaks. Zvonimir Ivisic started it off with a slam, and Stojakovic followed on the fast break after a missed three from Penn. Vaaks put the exclamation point on the stretch with a steal and a big slam to extend Illinois’ lead to 18 and force a Penn timeout.
The Illini entered the half with a 53-30 lead, and they didn’t slow down out of the break.
Once again, it was aggressive perimeter defense that helped the Illini succeed in the second half. Early on, Vaaks did it again, getting in the passing lane and going all the way for a jam. The Quakers opened the half, making just two of their nine shots.
The Illini made them pay, scoring 14 points in the first five minutes on 5-for-9 shooting. It continued that way for much of the second half, with Penn unable to find an answer on either end of the floor.
More Illini got involved offensively in the second half, including Quentin Coleman, who scored xx. His fellow freshmen, Ethan Brown and Lincoln Williams, added xx and xx, respectively. With multiple injuries, Illinois has relied more on its freshmen, and so far, they’ve stepped up.
Stat Stuffers
Andrej Stojakovic: 25 points, 9-for-17 shooting, four assists
Lincoln Williams: 12 points, 4-for-5 shooting, nine rebounds
Tomislav Ivisic: Seven assists, three blocks
Quentin Coleman: 19 points, 8-for-8 shooting, one steal
Michael Zanoni: 16 points, 4-for-6 from three, two steals
Up Next
Illinois takes on No. 19 Texas Tech Monday in its first ranked matchup of the season in Lubbock, Texas.
