In the only matchup between two ranked teams on Thursday, No. 22 Illinois reminded the college basketball world that it is one of the Big Ten's best with a 109-77 thumping of No. 9-ranked Oregon.
The win was the Fighting Illini's first victory over a ranked team since they defeated then-No. 20 Wisconsin on Dec. 10.
Top-10 roadkill. pic.twitter.com/A4WAovJDz2
— Illinois Men's Basketball (@IlliniMBB) January 3, 2025
The 32-point margin of victory was the largest in college basketball history against a top-10 team on the road. Brad Underwood's bunch came ready to make a statement, and that is exactly what they did.
Made history and had fun doing it.
— Illinois Men's Basketball (@IlliniMBB) January 3, 2025
The Illini's 32-point margin of victory is the most against any AP Top-10 team on the road.#IlliniPerformanceStat x #InvescoQQQ pic.twitter.com/vUsXbfsSdc
The Illini had an outstanding shooting night, going 42-for-73 (57.5%) from the field and 16-for-29 (55.2%) from three-point range. Six Illinois players were in double figures, and seven made at least one three-pointer.
Junior guard Tre White was the star of the game for Illinois, finishing with 20 points, 11 rebounds and four assists. Senior forward Ben Humrichous and junior guard Kylan Boswell each made four three-pointers and scored 18 and 15 points, respectively.
This between the legs assist was NASTY @IlliniMBB pic.twitter.com/EmlocQEXpr
— FOX College Hoops (@CBBonFOX) January 3, 2025
A bright spot for Oregon was Supreme Cook's 20 points off the bench. Cook averages just 7.7 points per game and had not scored more than 14 points in a game this season.
Kwame Evans Jr. scored 11 points off the Ducks bench. Evans had a perfect shooting night, going 3-for-3 from the field and 2-for-2 from three-point range.
Evans sinks it from the corner ⚓️ @OregonMBB pic.twitter.com/d2aFhnTQYH
— FOX College Hoops (@CBBonFOX) January 3, 2025
Illinois gets a nice break in the schedule and will not face another ranked team until Jan. 19, when it will travel to East Lansing and play No. 18 Michigan State.
Oregon will also get a two-week break from ranked opponents, as its next game against a team in the Top 25 will be Jan. 18, when it hosts No. 20 Purdue.
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