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Greenville Today
By the People, for the People
Illinois Dominates VCU to Advance to Sweet 16
Andrej Stojakovic scores 21 points as No. 3 Illinois cruises past No. 11 VCU in NCAA Tournament
Mar. 22, 2026 at 8:10am
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Andrej Stojakovic scored 16 of his 21 points in the first half to help No. 3 Illinois defeat No. 11 VCU 76-55 in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Tomislav Ivisic added a double-double for the Fighting Illini, who advanced to the Sweet 16 for the first time in 21 years. VCU struggled mightily from 3-point range, shooting just 21.9% on 32 attempts.
Why it matters
Illinois' dominant performance against a ranked opponent demonstrates their potential to make a deep run in the NCAA Tournament. The loss ends VCU's season after a strong campaign, raising questions about their ability to compete with top teams in the country.
The details
Illinois opened the game on a 9-0 run and never looked back, leading by as many as 23 points in the second half. Stojakovic led the way for the Fighting Illini, while Tomislav Ivisic recorded a double-double. VCU struggled mightily from the perimeter, making just 7 of their 32 3-point attempts.
- The game was played on Saturday, March 22, 2026 in Greenville, South Carolina.
The players
Andrej Stojakovic
A standout player for No. 3 Illinois, scoring 21 points with 16 in the first half to lead his team to victory.
Tomislav Ivisic
Contributed a double-double of 14 points and 11 rebounds for Illinois in the win.
Terrence Hill Jr.
Led VCU with 17 points and 7 rebounds in the losing effort.
What they’re saying
“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”
— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident
What’s next
Illinois will face No. 2 Houston on Thursday in Houston in the Sweet 16 round of the NCAA Tournament.
The takeaway
Illinois' dominant victory over a ranked opponent demonstrates their potential to make a deep run in the NCAA Tournament, while VCU's season ends with questions about their ability to compete with top teams in the country.
