Official NCAA NET rankings

USC Upsets No. 13 Illinois 82-72 Led by Desmond Claude's 31 Points, First Ranked Road Win Since 2010

Jan 11, 2025, 07:05 PM

USC men's basketball team secured a significant upset victory against No. 13 Illinois with a final score of 82-72 in Champaign. This win marks the first time since 2010 that USC has defeated a ranked opponent on the road. Junior guard Desmond Claude led the Trojans with a season-high 31 points, shooting 12 of 20 from the field. Wesley Yates contributed 15 points, while Rashaun Agee added 13 points and eight rebounds. The Trojans shot 54.2% from the field, scoring 1.139 points per possession, and outrebounded Illinois, who were without their leading scorer Kasparas Jakucionis due to a forearm injury. Illinois, shooting 7 for 32 from three and 16 for 30 from two, had been on a five-game winning streak prior to the game, but USC's performance ended the Illini's run. USC, ranked No. 95 in the NET rankings with an 0-4 record in Quad 1 games, could see this victory as a pivotal moment under first-year coach Eric Musselman, boosting their chances in the Big Ten and potentially in NCAA contention.