Illinois Falls To Rutgers, 70-59

While Kofi Cockburn and RJ Melendez led a comeback attempt late in the second half, Rutgers' offensive attack was too much for the Illini. Cockburn did secure his 42nd career double-double with 20 points and 10 rebounds to surpass Skip Thoren's program record.

Four Rutgers players scored in the double-digits as Ron Harper Jr. and Clifford Omoruyi led the way with 16 and 15 points, respectively. The Scarlet Knights dominated Illinois on the boards, winning the rebounding battle 46-28. They had 14 offensive rebounds which led to 17 second chance points.

Rutgers led the entire game, starting off with a pair of free throws in the opening minute then a jumper from Ron Harper Jr. Kofi Cockburn scored first for the Illini with an and-1dunk, making the free throw. Cockburn traded layups with Rutgers before the Scarlet Knights went on a 10-0 run to take a 17-7 lead.

Omar Payne ended Illinois' near-three-minute scoring drought with an alley-oop dunk from Andre Curbelo. Neither team scored for a couple minutes then Paul Mulcahy hit a couple jumpers while Alfonso Plummer made a layup. Harper Jr. made a three-pointer before Jacob Grandison and Cockburn each made layups to cut the deficit to nine points.

After another jumper from Mulcahy, the Illini went on a 6-2 run as Cockburn had another slam and Plummer and Trent Frazier scored layups. Rutgers scored a quick five points near the end of the first half, but Frazier hit a three before the break.

Illinois headed into halftime trailing 33-24 after shooting 32% from the field, but 7% from the three-point line. Rutgers nearly doubled Illinois' rebound total at the half and had eight offensive rebounds.

The second half featured more offensive struggles for the Illini. While Grandison started things off with a three-pointer, the Scarlet Knights followed with a 14-1 run in the next six minutes to take a 47-28 lead.

Cockburn ended the run with a dunk after Coleman Hawkins grabbed an offensive rebound. Hawkins got another offensive board on the next possession and made the putback to start cutting into the lead. Frazier capped off a 7-0 run for the Illini with a three-pointer after Curbelo secured a steal.

Illinois' momentum didn't last long as Geo Baker fired back with a jumper then Mulcahy hit a three-pointer. Curbelo came back with a layup, but Rutgers mad back-to-back threes and a layup, extending its lead to a game-high 23 points. With under seven minutes to go, Cockburn and RJ Melendez began chipping away at the deficit. Cockburn made a layup and a pair of free throws while Melendez hit three shots from the line.

Mulcahy kept pushing the lead with a jumper, but Melendez was fouled on a fast break layup and made both free throws again. Cockburn followed it up with a dunk then Melendez buried a three-pointer, cutting the lead down to 11 points. Harper Jr. came back with a dunk, but with under three minutes to go, Frazier nailed a three after grabbing an offensive rebound.

At two minutes to play, Rutgers made a layup and a pair of free throws while Hawkins hit a three-pointer. Melendez made a driving layup to get within nine points, but the Scarlet Knights stayed tough at the free throw line and closed out the game.

The Illini will stay on the road and head to Michigan State for a Saturday morning matchup. They will return home next Thursday to host Ohio State.