Penn 70, at Illinois 105

GREENVILLE, S.C. (Interstat) — The Illinois men’s basketball team unleashed a dominant second-half performance to overwhelm Penn 105-70 in the first round of the NCAA tournament on Thursday night at the Bi-Lo Center. A 10-point halftime lead ballooned into a 35-point rout as the Fighting Illini outscored the Quakers 65-40 after intermission, showcasing a level of offensive firepower that proved far too much for the Ivy League champions. The victory advanced Illinois, which improved to 25-8, while Penn’s season ended at 18-12. The game’s decisive stretch came early in the second half, turning a competitive contest into a runaway. Leading… Read more...