Chambana Sun

The University of Illinois men's basketball team, ranked 13th nationally, achieved a decisive victory over Penn State with a score of 91-52 at the State Farm Center. This win marks their fifth consecutive victory and fourth straight in Big Ten conference play.

Three players from the Fighting Illini scored at least 20 points each during the game. Ben Humrichous led with a season-high 21 points, including five three-pointers in the first half. He also contributed nine rebounds, one block, and one steal. Morez Johnson Jr. recorded his second double-double of the season with a career-best 20 points and 11 rebounds, shooting an impressive 9-for-11 from the field. Tre White added another 20 points to his tally, scoring double figures for the third consecutive game.

Will Riley made his first career start, contributing seven points, six rebounds, and a career-high six assists. Kylan Boswell added five points along with six assists and three steals. Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn came off the bench to score nine points.

Penn State initially took an early lead but was quickly overtaken by Illinois' 15-0 run within five minutes of play. The Illini's advantage grew as they executed another significant scoring stretch before halftime.

Illinois continued to dominate throughout the second half, leading by as much as 39 points at times during the game. "Improving to 4-1 in conference play," Illinois will next face USC on Saturday in their first meeting as Big Ten opponents.

Coach Brad Underwood secured his 155th win with this victory for Illinois. The team now boasts a strong record in Big Ten games since the start of the 2019-2020 season.