Desmond Claude scores 31 to lead Southern California over No. 13 Illinois 82-72
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) Desmond Claude scored a season-high 31 points to lead Southern California to an 82-72 win over No. 13 Illinois on Saturday.
Wesley Yates III had 15 points - shooting 7 of 8 from the field - while Rashaun Agee had 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.
Kasparas Jakucionis, the Illini’s leading scorer, missed his second straight game because of a forearm injury suffered Jan. 5 against Washington.
Illinois: 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 were 7 of 32 on 3-pointers.
USC: The Trojans didn’t get to the free-throw line very often. They were 9 of 11 on foul shots to Illinois’ 19 of 21. But they shot 52% to Illinois’ 37% and outrebounded the Illini 37-34. Illinois came into the game averaging 45.9 rebounds per game, best in the nation.
The game was tied at 57 with 8:46 left. 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 also was a shooting star. The graduate student sank three triples after making two all season and six in his career.
Southern California hosts Iowa on Tuesday night.
Illinois visits Indiana on Tuesday night.
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| Time | Team | Play | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20:00 |  | (Trojans gains possession) | ||
| 19:47 |  | Chibuzo Agbo misses three point jump shot | ||
| 19:45 | | Kylan Boswell defensive rebound | ||
| 19:36 | | Ben Humrichous turnover (Saint Thomas steals) | ||
| 19:18 | | Saint Thomas misses two point jump shot | ||
| 19:16 | | Kylan Boswell defensive rebound | ||
| 19:03 | | +2 | Tomislav Ivisic makes two point dunk | 0-2 |
| 18:38 | | +2 | Desmond Claude makes two point jump shot | 2-2 |
| 18:10 | | Kylan Boswell turnover (lost ball) | ||
| 17:44 | | +2 | Chibuzo Agbo makes two point layup | 4-2 |
| 17:15 | | +2 | Will Riley makes two point jump shot | 4-4 |
| 16:57 | | +2 | Desmond Claude makes two point jump shot | 6-4 |
| 16:46 | | Tre White misses three point jump shot | ||
| 16:44 | | Trojans defensive rebound | ||
| 16:42 | | Ben Humrichous personal foul | ||
| 16:24 | | Desmond Claude misses three point jump shot | ||
| 16:22 | | Kylan Boswell defensive rebound | ||
| 16:18 | | Kylan Boswell turnover (bad pass) | ||
| 16:01 | | Rashaun Agee turnover | ||
| 15:48 | | Tre White misses two point jump shot | ||
| 15:46 | | Kevin Patton Jr. defensive rebound | ||
| 15:36 | | Rashaun Agee misses two point jump shot | ||
| 15:34 | | Tre White defensive rebound | ||
| 15:25 | | Saint Thomas personal foul | ||
| 15:25 | | TV timeout | ||
| 15:20 | | Tre White misses two point layup | ||
| 15:18 | | Saint Thomas defensive rebound | ||
| 15:13 | | +2 | Desmond Claude makes two point layup | 8-4 |
| 14:57 | | Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn misses two point jump shot | ||
| 14:55 | | Chibuzo Agbo defensive rebound | ||
| 14:35 | | Desmond Claude misses two point jump shot | ||
| 14:33 | | Kylan Boswell defensive rebound | ||
| 14:21 | | +2 | Tre White makes two point layup | 8-6 |
| 13:59 | | +3 | Kevin Patton Jr. makes three point jump shot | 11-6 |
| 13:44 | | Kylan Boswell misses three point jump shot | ||
| 13:42 | | Saint Thomas defensive rebound | ||
| 13:35 | | Saint Thomas turnover (Kylan Boswell steals) | ||
| 13:27 | | Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn misses three point jump shot | ||
| 13:25 | | Morez Johnson Jr. offensive rebound | ||
| 13:20 | | Morez Johnson Jr. misses two point layup | ||
| 13:18 | | Rashaun Agee defensive rebound | ||
| 13:00 | | Desmond Claude turnover (Kylan Boswell steals) | ||
| 12:55 | | +2 | Kylan Boswell makes two point layup | 11-8 |
| 12:43 | | Desmond Claude turnover (Kylan Boswell steals) | ||
| 12:36 | | +2 | Jake Davis makes two point layup (Kylan Boswell assists) | 11-10 |
| 12:16 | | +3 | Rashaun Agee makes three point jump shot (Chibuzo Agbo assists) | 14-10 |
| 11:54 | | Kylan Boswell misses three point jump shot | ||
| 11:52 | | Rashaun Agee defensive rebound | ||
| 11:44 | | +3 | Rashaun Agee makes three point jump shot (Saint Thomas assists) | 17-10 |
| 11:30 | | Tre White misses two point layup | ||
| 11:28 | | Saint Thomas defensive rebound | ||
| 11:22 | | +2 | Saint Thomas makes two point jump shot | 19-10 |
| 11:22 | | Fighting Illini 30 second timeout | ||
| 11:22 | | TV timeout | ||
| 11:11 | | +3 | Ben Humrichous makes three point jump shot (Tomislav Ivisic assists) | 19-13 |
| 10:53 | | Rashaun Agee misses three point jump shot | ||
| 10:51 | | Wesley Yates III offensive rebound | ||
| 10:47 | | +2 | Wesley Yates III makes two point layup | 21-13 |
| 10:37 | | Tomislav Ivisic misses three point jump shot | ||
| 10:35 | | Ben Humrichous offensive rebound | ||
| 10:29 | | Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn turnover (Rashaun Agee steals) | ||
| 10:11 | | Will Riley personal foul | ||
| 9:55 | | Tre White blocks Saint Thomas's two point layup | ||
| 9:53 | | Ben Humrichous defensive rebound | ||
| 9:48 | | Kylan Boswell misses three point jump shot | ||
| 9:46 | | Wesley Yates III defensive rebound | ||
| 9:46 | | Will Riley personal foul | ||
| 9:30 | | Kevin Patton Jr. misses three point jump shot | ||
| 9:28 | | Tomislav Ivisic defensive rebound | ||
| 9:06 | | Ben Humrichous misses three point jump shot | ||
| 9:04 | | Jalen Shelley defensive rebound | ||
| 8:53 | | Wesley Yates III turnover | ||
| 8:46 | | Rashaun Agee personal foul (Kylan Boswell draws the foul) | ||
| 8:44 | | +2 | Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn makes two point layup (Kylan Boswell assists) | 21-15 |
| 8:44 | | Wesley Yates III shooting foul (Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn draws the foul) | ||
| 8:44 | | +1 | Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 21-16 |
| 8:35 | | Tomislav Ivisic blocks Rashaun Agee's two point layup | ||
| 8:33 | | Kylan Boswell defensive rebound | ||
| 8:17 | | Tre White misses two point jump shot | ||
| 8:15 | | Saint Thomas defensive rebound | ||
| 8:10 | | Kevin Patton Jr. turnover (double dribble) | ||
| 8:00 | | Tomislav Ivisic misses three point jump shot | ||
| 7:58 | | Wesley Yates III defensive rebound | ||
| 7:50 | | Kylan Boswell personal foul (Rashaun Agee draws the foul) | ||
| 7:50 | | TV timeout | ||
| 7:45 | | +2 | Desmond Claude makes two point dunk | 23-16 |
| 7:31 | | Tre White misses three point jump shot | ||
| 7:29 | | Kevin Patton Jr. defensive rebound | ||
| 7:22 | | +2 | Wesley Yates III makes two point layup (Kevin Patton Jr. assists) | 25-16 |
| 6:54 | | +3 | Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn makes three point jump shot (Kylan Boswell assists) | 25-19 |
| 6:19 | | Desmond Claude misses three point jump shot | ||
| 6:17 | | Ben Humrichous defensive rebound | ||
| 6:12 | | Desmond Claude shooting foul (Tre White draws the foul) | ||
| 6:12 | | +1 | Tre White makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 25-20 |
| 6:12 | | +1 | Tre White makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 25-21 |
| 6:01 | | +2 | Wesley Yates III makes two point jump shot | 27-21 |
| 5:49 | | Kylan Boswell misses three point jump shot | ||
| 5:47 | | Morez Johnson Jr. offensive rebound | ||
| 5:47 | | Rashaun Agee personal foul | ||
| 5:46 | | +2 | Tre White makes two point layup (Kylan Boswell assists) | 27-23 |
| 5:46 | | Wesley Yates III shooting foul (Tre White draws the foul) | ||
| 5:46 | | +1 | Tre White makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 27-24 |
| 5:35 | | +2 | Chibuzo Agbo makes two point layup | 29-24 |
| 5:17 | | Ben Humrichous turnover (out of bounds) | ||
| 4:57 | | Saint Thomas misses two point jump shot | ||
| 4:55 | | Morez Johnson Jr. defensive rebound | ||
| 4:47 | | Kevin Patton Jr. personal foul (Jake Davis draws the foul) | ||
| 4:47 | | +1 | Jake Davis makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 29-25 |
| 4:47 | | +1 | Jake Davis makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 29-26 |
| 4:38 | | +2 | Kevin Patton Jr. makes two point dunk (Desmond Claude assists) | 31-26 |
| 4:24 | | Bryce Pope personal foul (Kylan Boswell draws the foul) | ||
| 4:24 | | +1 | Kylan Boswell makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 31-27 |
| 4:24 | | +1 | Kylan Boswell makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 31-28 |
| 4:08 | | Chibuzo Agbo misses two point jump shot | ||
| 4:06 | | Jake Davis defensive rebound | ||
| 3:54 | | Kylan Boswell misses three point jump shot | ||
| 3:52 | | Trojans defensive rebound | ||
| 3:49 | | TV timeout | ||
| 3:35 | | Kylan Boswell personal foul | ||
| 3:28 | | +2 | Chibuzo Agbo makes two point jump shot | 33-28 |
| 3:15 | | Desmond Claude shooting foul (Kylan Boswell draws the foul) | ||
| 3:15 | | +1 | Kylan Boswell makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 33-29 |
| 3:15 | | Kylan Boswell turnover (lane violation) | ||
| 2:55 | | Kevin Patton Jr. turnover | ||
| 2:51 | | +2 | Jake Davis makes two point layup (Tre White assists) | 33-31 |
| 2:35 | | Tre White personal foul | ||
| 2:21 | | Saint Thomas misses three point jump shot | ||
| 2:19 | | Tre White defensive rebound | ||
| 2:06 | | Jalen Shelley personal foul (Morez Johnson Jr. draws the foul) | ||
| 2:06 | | +1 | Morez Johnson Jr. makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 33-32 |
| 2:06 | | +1 | Morez Johnson Jr. makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 33-33 |
| 1:49 | | Morez Johnson Jr. blocks Desmond Claude's two point layup | ||
| 1:47 | | Trojans offensive rebound | ||
| 1:39 | | Chibuzo Agbo misses two point jump shot | ||
| 1:37 | | Jalen Shelley offensive rebound | ||
| 1:34 | | Jalen Shelley misses two point layup | ||
| 1:32 | | Morez Johnson Jr. defensive rebound | ||
| 1:28 | | Jake Davis turnover (traveling) | ||
| 1:05 | | Ben Humrichous personal foul (Desmond Claude draws the foul) | ||
| 1:05 | | +1 | Desmond Claude makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 34-33 |
| 1:05 | | +1 | Desmond Claude makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 35-33 |
| 0:53 | | +3 | Ben Humrichous makes three point jump shot (Jake Davis assists) | 35-36 |
| 0:17 | | Saint Thomas misses three point jump shot | ||
| 0:15 | | Jalen Shelley offensive rebound | ||
| 0:08 | | Jalen Shelley turnover (Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn steals) | ||
| 0:02 | | +2 | Tre White makes two point layup (Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn assists) | 35-38 |
| 0:00 | | End of period |