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  "path": "/college-sports/2026/03/21/illinois-routs-vcu-to-reach-sweet-16-where-host-houston-awaits",
  "publishedAt": "2026-03-22T03:37:15.042Z",
  "site": "https://chicago.suntimes.com",
  "textContent": "<p>GREENVILLE, S.C. — Andrej Stojakovic scored 21 points and No. 3 Illinois beat 11th-seeded VCU 76-55 on Saturday to advance to the Sweet 16 for the second time in three seasons under coach Brad Underwood.</p><p>Tomislav Ivisic had 14 points and 11 rebounds and Keaton Wagler chipped in with 14 points for the Fighting Illini (26-8), who advanced to face South Region No. 2 seed Houston, an 88-57 winner over Texas A&M.</p><p>That regional semifinal game will be played in Houston, where a victory will move Illinois one step closer to its first Final Four since 2005 and its first with Underwood at the helm. Illinois is 3-2 all-time against Houston, but the Cougars won the most recent meeting 68-53 in the second round of the 2022 NCAA Tournament.</p><p>Underwood celebrated after the game by waving both arms up in the air simultaneously at the Illinois crowd.</p><p>Illinois, which had a huge height advantage, held VCU to 35% shooting and outrebounded the Rams 45-29. The Illini blocked five shots.</p><p>Terrence Hill Jr. had 17 points for VCU (28-8).</p><p>VCU’s Nyk Lewis went down for the game with a sprained right ankle in the opening minute and Illinois bolted to 20-8 lead.</p><p>But just as they did on Thursday night against No. 6 seed North Carolina, when they came storming back from a 19-point, second-half deficit to win 82-78 in overtime, the Rams got back in it with a series of 3-pointers to take a 28-26 lead behind 12 first-half points from Hill.</p><p>But VCU couldn't sustain the momentum.</p><p>Illinois took control late in the first half with Stojakovic scoring all nine points during a 9-0 stretch to close the half.</p><p>The second half was all Illinois.</p><p>The Illini pushed their lead to 17 early in the second half after VCU turnovers led to a high-flying transition dunk from Zvonimir Ivisic and Kylan Boswell's 3 from the top of the key to beat the shot clock.</p><p>The lead got to 23 with 4 minutes remaining, setting off a celebration among Illinois fans.</p><h3></h3>",
  "title": "Illinois routs VCU to reach Sweet 16, where host Houston awaits",
  "updatedAt": "2026-03-22T03:37:15.042Z"
}