Illinois Beats VCU 76-55 to Reach Sweet 16

Andrej Stojakovic scores 21 points as No. 3 seed Illinois advances in NCAA tournament

Mar. 22, 2026 at 2:52pm

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The University of Illinois men's basketball team defeated 11th-seeded VCU 76-55 on Saturday to advance to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA tournament. Andrej Stojakovic led the Fighting Illini with 21 points, while Tomislav Ivisic added 14 points and 11 rebounds. Illinois will next face Houston in the South Region semifinals.

Why it matters

Illinois' victory over VCU marks the second time in three seasons under head coach Brad Underwood that the Fighting Illini have reached the Sweet 16. The team's strong performance and chemistry have been key factors in their tournament run.

The details

Illinois jumped out to an early 20-8 lead after VCU's Nyk Lewis suffered an ankle injury in the opening minute and did not return. VCU fought back to take a 28-26 lead, but Illinois regained control late in the first half with a 9-0 run led by Stojakovic. The Fighting Illini pulled away in the second half, leading by as many as 23 points.

  • The game was played on Saturday, March 22, 2026 in Greenville, South Carolina.

The players

Andrej Stojakovic

A transfer from California who scored 21 points to lead Illinois to the victory.

Tomislav Ivisic

Contributed 14 points and 11 rebounds for Illinois.

Keaton Wagler

Scored 14 points for the Fighting Illini.

Terrence Hill Jr.

Led VCU with 17 points in the losing effort.

Nyk Lewis

VCU player who suffered an ankle injury in the opening minute and did not return.

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What they’re saying

“I think that we're even closer off the court. We see how hard we work every single day, and we understand how much this means to us. It just translates on the court. We trust each other. We love each other. Now we've just got to keep it going.”

— Andrej Stojakovic

“Andrej, what a first half. On the offensive side, on the glass, he sparked us. He was tremendous. His athleticism, the dunk he had that kind of ended a little dry spell for us was huge.”

— Brad Underwood, Illinois Head Coach

“He makes crazy plays in transition. I was coming down the court, and I just see this 7-footer running behind me and I knew to dump it off to him. He's a freak athlete, makes tremendous plays for us, so that was a crazy play.”

— Kylan Boswell, Illinois Player

“Certainly what Nyk represents, you just can't replicate. I feel terrible for him and for him to go out like that was just a shame.”

— Phil Martelli Jr., VCU Head Coach

What’s next

Illinois will next face Houston, the No. 2 seed in the South Region, in the Sweet 16. The Illini and Cougars have met previously in the 2022 NCAA Tournament, with Houston winning 68-53.

The takeaway

Illinois' balanced scoring attack, stifling defense, and strong team chemistry have propelled the Fighting Illini to the Sweet 16 for the second time in three seasons under coach Brad Underwood. Their tournament run has showcased the program's continued growth and competitiveness at the national level.