Illinois Wins Fifth Straight, Defeats Penn State 91-52

No. 13 Illinois dominated Penn State with a decisive 91-52 victory, marking their fifth consecutive win in the Big Ten. Ben Humrichous led the Illini with a season-high 21 points, and both Tre White and Morez Johnson Jr. contributed 20 points each, showcasing a strong offensive performance despite the absence of leading scorer Kasparas Jakucionis due to injury. Illinois outscored Penn State 40-10 after trailing 11-5 early in the first half, demonstrating remarkable resilience. Penn State's Ace Baldwin Jr. aggravated a back injury and was unable to contribute, leading to a dismal shooting performance where they finished with just 31% from the field. The Nittany Lions, who had been one of the top scoring teams in the nation, now find themselves struggling with a 2-3 Big Ten record and dealing with injuries that have thinned their roster. This comprehensive defeat highlights Illinois's potential as a strong contender in the conference.