Rutgers 55, at Illinois 81

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (Interstat) — A dominant first-half performance by No. [redacted] Illinois laid the foundation for a decisive 81-55 victory over Rutgers in a Big Ten Conference men’s basketball game Thursday night at a sold-out State Farm Center. The Fighting Illini, improving to 12-3 overall and 2-1 in the conference, overwhelmed the Scarlet Knights from the opening tip, building a 27-point halftime lead that Rutgers never seriously threatened. The Scarlet Knights fell to 8-8 overall and 1-2 in the Big Ten. The most critical phase of the game was its opening 12 minutes, where Illinois established a commanding lead that… Read more...