Moments into Saturday’s competition in Greenville, Nyk Lewis suffered a fall after his foot connected with a teammate’s.
(Mitchell Layton via Getty Images)
The Rams’ prospects for success appeared slim, even if Nyk Lewis had been able to play.
The third-seeded Illinois squad delivered an explosive second-half performance, securing a dominant 76-55 victory against eleventh-seeded VCU during their second-round NCAA tournament clash on Saturday evening at South Carolina’s Bon Secours Wellness Arena. This triumph propelled the Illini into the Sweet 16 stage for the second occasion in the last three years.
During Illinois’ initial offensive play at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, South Carolina, Lewis ascended to retrieve a rebound following an unsuccessful shot by Kylan Boswell. However, upon his descent, Lewis’s right foot unluckily landed squarely on fellow player Brandon Jennings. His right ankle sustained a severe twist, causing him to collapse to the floor instantly in visible distress.
Ultimately, Lewis received assistance to depart the playing area and reach the sideline, though he refrained from applying any pressure to his injured ankle during the movement.
Lewis was subsequently escorted to the changing room for X-ray examinations. Television coverage on CBS depicted him making his way towards the tunnel with a noticeable limp, experiencing difficulty in walking.
The coaching staff officially declared him unavailable due to an ankle sprain shortly before the halftime interval. He later rejoined his teammates at the far end of the bench, where he was observed applying ice to his ankle.
This season, as a first-year player for the Rams, Lewis posted averages of 8.9 points and 4.6 rebounds per contest. He earned the Atlantic-10’s Rookie of the Year distinction and was also included in the conference’s All-Freshman roster.
Lewis contributed 16 points and seven rebounds, aiding the Rams in their victory over sixth-ranked North Carolina during the tournament’s initial round. The Rams engineered a remarkable recovery from a 19-point deficit, securing their first NCAA tournament triumph since 2016. This achievement set a new record for the most significant first-round comeback in NCAA tournament history.
Illinois secures decisive victory
After Lewis’s injury, Illinois maintained control for most of the game, holding a seven-point advantage at the halftime whistle. This margin expanded to almost 20 points as the Illini commenced the second half with a dominant 15-4 run. The Rams struggled significantly on offense, converting only two of their initial eleven field goal attempts.
Although Terrence Hill engineered a personal 5-0 scoring spree, propelled by a layup and a rapid three-pointer following a steal, momentarily reducing the deficit to 13 points, this was their nearest approach. Illinois then compelled three swift turnovers, reasserting complete dominance over the contest before cruising to their overwhelming win.
Coming off the bench, Hill was VCU’s top scorer with 17 points and seven rebounds. Barry Evans and Tyrell Ward were the sole additional Rams players to achieve double-digit scoring, each contributing 11 points.
Andrej Stokajovic paced Illinois’ scoring with 21 points as a reserve player. Tomislav Ivisic contributed 14 points and 11 rebounds, while Keaton Wagler also secured 14 points. Illinois had previously dominated Penn with a 35-point margin in the opening round to advance to Saturday night’s game. Following this latest victory, the Illini are set to face second-seeded Houston in the Sweet 16 next weekend in Houston.
Despite the increased challenge of playing away from home and the Cougars’ undeniable status as a strong championship contender, Illinois advances to the subsequent round having secured two decisive victories.
