CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Desmond Claude scored a season-high 31 points to lead USC to an 82-72 win over No. 13 Illinois on Saturday.
Wesley Yates III had 15 points — shooting seven of eight from the field — while Rashaun Agee finished with 13 points and eight rebounds for the Trojans (10-6, 2-3 Big Ten).
Illinois (12-4, 4-2) had a five-game winning streak snapped. Ben Humrichous had 15 points, while Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn and Tre White each scored 11.
With the score tied at 57 with 8:46 left in the second half, USC went on a 13-3 run to move in front 70-60 with 5:12 to go and Illinois didn’t threaten after that.
Claude shot 12 for 20 from the field and made all seven of his free throws. Agee, a graduate student, sank three triples after making two all season and six in his career.
Kasparas Jakucionis, the Illini’s leading scorer, missed his second straight game because of a forearm injury suffered Jan. 5 against Washington.
The Illini have gotten off to a slow start in each game without Jakucionis. They trailed Penn State by six points early Wednesday before winning 91-52. They were down by nine points early to USC and never did get their offense going without their scoring and assist leader. They shot seven of 32 on three-pointers.
The Trojans didn’t get to the free-throw line very often but did make nine of 11 foul shots to Illinois’ 19 of 21. But they shot 52% to Illinois’ 37% from the field and outrebounded the Illini 37-34. Illinois came into the game averaging 45.9 rebounds per game, best in the nation.
Up next
USC hosts Iowa on Tuesday night while Illinois visits Indiana on Tuesday night.
