PISCATAWAY – Rutgers (18-8, 9-6) limited No. 22/23 Illinois (16-9, 8-6) to 31.1 percent (19-of-61) shooting to earn a 72-57 victory at a sold-out RAC on Saturday, its third double-digit victory over a nationally-ranked foe at the venue this season. The Scarlet Knights improved their nation's best home record to 17-0, while earning a ninth conference win for the first time in 21 years.
"We've come a long way and we're just thankful," said Rutgers head coach
Steve Pikiell. "The community shows up, our season ticket holders, all the people make it loud. Every place I've been to in this league has had a huge home-court advantage and now we have one. It's a good feeling."
Ron Harper Jr. was 11-of-14 from the field, including 5-of-5 from behind the arc, to score a game-high 27 points, while leading three Scarlet Knights in double figures.
Geo Baker and
Akwasi Yeboah both contributed 12 points. Baker (4-of-4), Yeboah (2-of-2),
Shaq Carter (2-of-2) and
Paul Mulcahy (2-of-2) helped Rutgers shoot 91.7 percent (11-of-12) at the free throw line, its best-ever mark in a Big Ten game.
"They embrace each other's success," said Pikiell. "I love that part of this team. Ron had one of those days. He started off making a couple. I liked the way we got him the basketball and moved him around the court."
The Scarlet Knights drew even on the boards with the Illini, despite the visitors entering the contest with a Big Ten-best, plus-nine rebound margin that ranked third nationally. Rutgers also issued nine blocks, tying for its most-ever in a Big Ten game with the nine in the win over No. 20 Penn State on Jan. 7 at the RAC.
"I thought we did a real good job of closing out and detailing our defense with only a day really to prepare," said Pikiell. "I liked the way our guys were locked in on the details of the things that we needed to do."
Illinois led by four in the opening half before Rutgers took a 34-32 edge into the locker room at the midpoint. Kofi Cockburn grabbed six offensive rebounds and scored eight points for the visitors before the break.
In the second half, Cockburn was limited to one offensive rebound and two points, as the Scarlet Knights fed-off the capacity crowd to exert pressure and pull away. Ahead 43-42 with 15 minutes remaining, Rutgers utilized an 11-0 run to push its lead into double digits. The home squad built its advantage to as much 20 before securing the 15-point win.
"We got Michigan coming up," said Pikiell. "We're trying to go 1-0 with that one. These guys (the players) are why we're 17-0. They've sacrificed, they've played the defense, and they don't care who starts."
Rutgers returns to action Wednesday to host Michigan in a 7 p.m. tip-off at the RAC. The sold-out game will be televised on BTN with Brandon Gaudin and Dan Bonner on the call.
POST-GAME NOTES
- Rutgers earned its ninth conference win, RU's most in league play since 1998-99 (9-9; Big East).
- Rutgers captured its third ranked victory of the season, its most since winning four against ranked foes in 2001-02.
- Rutgers has 13 double-digit wins over nationally-ranked opponents in program history, with three coming this season and four in the past two years.
- Rutgers has a nation's-best 17-0 home record. The last Big Ten program to boast a 17-0 home record was Indiana in 2015-16.
- The average margin of victory for Rutgers against nationally-ranked opponents at the RAC this season is 15.3 points.
- Today's sell-out was the seventh straight at the RAC and one of a school-record 10 this season at the 8,000-seat venue.
- Rutgers earned its 18th regular season victory, its most since beginning the 2001-02 season 18-9 before concluding the year 18-13.
- Rutgers was 11-of-12 (91.7%) at the free throw line, its best-ever mark in a Big Ten game. It was RU's best percentage in a contest since a 92.0% (23-of-25) mark against Manhattan on Feb. 14, 2014.
- Rutgers had nine blocks, tying its most ever in a Big Ten game with the nine issued in the win over Penn State on Jan. 7 at the RAC.
- Ron Harper Jr. scored 27 points, his fourth game with 20 or more points this season and the fifth of his career. He registered double figures for the 15th time this season and 25th time in his career.
- Harper's five three-point field goals were the most a RU player had ever recorded in a Big Ten game.
- Akwasi Yeboah is 16-of-16 at three throw line in the last three games.
- Yeboah scored in double digits for the 15th time this season and the 85th time in his career.
- Geo Baker had a season-best seven assists, signaling the eighth time this season and 24th time in his career he's had five or more helpers. He is tied for 16th place with Phil Sellers all-time at Rutgers with 293 career assists.
- Baker scored in double figures for the 12th time this season and the 54th time in his career. He now has 971 career points.
- Myles Johnson grabbed 11 rebounds, reaching double-digit boards for the 11th time this season and 15th time in his career.
- Rutgers drew even on the boards with Illinois, which entered the game leading the Big Ten and ranked third nationally in rebound margin (+9.0).
- Rutgers held Illinois to more than 16 points below its season scoring average of 73.6.
- In its two games against Illinois this season, Rutgers limited the Illini to 28.6 (18-of-63) and 31.1 (19-of-61) percent shooting, for a series total of 29.8 (37-of-124) percent.
- Illinois' 31.1 percent represented the third worst FG% versus Rutgers in a Big Ten game since the program joined the league. The 28.6 percent mark was the top mark.
- Rutgers had a starting lineup comprised of Geo Baker, Montez Mathis, Ron Harper Jr. Akwasi Yeboah and Shaq Carter for the first time this season.
POST-GAME QUOTES
Rutgers Head Coach Steve Pikiell
Opening Statement: "Proud. Great environment. It was a really good college basketball game. Illinois is really good. They're ranked for a reason. The RAC was rocking. We're very thankful to everyone that showed up and made it a tough, great and exciting environment."
On Ron Harper Jr's performance: "They embrace each other's success. I love that part of this team. Ron had one of those days. He started off making a couple. I liked the way we got him the basketball and moved him around the court. But I really liked our defense quite honestly and I liked his defense, too, in the basketball game. I'm always concerned about that end of the floor. It was Ron's night and we got him the basketball and I think that's what makes us a good team. It's been different players' nights, different games, we seem to embrace the success someone else has and that's a sign of a good team. We're living in a 'selfie' world and we're playing a team sport. When they embrace someone else's success, I think it's great."
On team's game plan: "I just thought we were locked into the whole game plan. (Kofi) Cockburn is a problem in the lane. Giorgi (Bezhanishvili) has scored a zillion points against us in the past. (Andres) Feliz is one of the best guards in the league. Trent (Frazier) is a scoring point guard. I thought we did a real good job of closing out and detailing our defense with only a day really to prepare. I liked the way our guys were locked in on the details of the things that we needed to do. Obviously they beat us on the backboards last time and that was a big factor in the game. And they beat us on the free throw line. To have those categories even for us was a real good thing."
On putting Geo Baker and Shaq Carter in the starting lineup: "I mean. I got nine starters. I just thought 'start my three captains'. I'm just very thankful -- two guys, Myles and Caleb -- (are) very important guys to us. They said 'coach, whatever you need' and that's a great sign for your team. I though they gave us some great energy and I'm thankful for that. I never really worry about who starts games. It was nice getting the three veteran guys on the court -- the captains."
On strategy for keeping Myles Johnson out of foul trouble: "I don't know. He fouls a lot at all points in the game. Thankful that he didn't. When you're playing the big guys that we're playing against, obviously you saw, Cockburn's a problem. He collects fouls. Just very thankful. I thought Shaq gave us some real good energy, too, out of the gate."
On Geo Baker's offensive performance: "He's been good, but he's had better practices. I thought Ron had good practices, Paul (Mulcahy) has been having good practices, Akwasi (Yeboah) has been very consistent with that. Geo's been much better in practice scoring more. I thought it just carried over today. I thought he played with great confidence and got to the free throw line, which was an important part of today's game plan. Geo gets there four times which helps us a great deal, too. He's a good player and certainly likes playing here at the RAC."
On Illinois coach Brad Underwood calling The RAC the loudest arena he's coached in: "We've come a long way and we're just thankful. The community shows up, our season ticket holders, all the people make it loud. Every place I've been to in this league has had a huge home-court advantage and now we have one. It's a good feeling."
On being 17-0 at home: "We got Michigan coming up. We're trying to go 1-0 with that one. These guys (the players) are why we're 17-0. They've sacrificed, they've played the defense, and they don't care who starts. Geo was coming off the bench for a lot of games. I think that's really a big part of it. They're just happy. They want to win and they want to be connected. It's not easy nowadays. This is a 'selfie' world. This is a team sport. To get them to all be connected like that is very important and that's how you can do things like 17-0."
On defending Kofi Cockburn: "I thought all these guys were alert to the scouting report. We tried to not allow him great low post position because he's kind of immovable down there. But I thought we did a real good job in our gaps and with our help, coming and making life a little bit difficult for him. You gotta game plan in only a couple of days. I thought our guys picked up the game plan pretty well and made it tough for him, even though he scored some points. He's a real good foul shooter, too, so you gotta defend him without fouling,"
On game planning for Ayo Dosunmu (listed day-to-day with injury): "He's a real good player, but Feliz has been great and I knew they would play those other guys. (Alan) Griffin's really good. They got a lot of really good players. With the game plan, you can't flip-flop. You got a day, day and a half to kinda soak it in. That's what you have to do."
Illinois Head Coach Brad Underwood
Opening Statement: "Give a lot of credit to
Steve Pikiell and this Rutgers program. It's a great environment. They're 17-0 at home and it's one of the loudest buildings we've seen all year. They have a great basketball team. Rob Harper was in a little funk, maybe we didn't close him out enough, and he got going early and was sensational.
Geo Baker is the best closer in college basketball. He is a difference maker. Without our alpha, we competed, but you can't shoot 26 percent on the road and win. Give the Rutgers defense a lot of credit for that. They deserve that."
On being satisfied with the quality of shots: "We took way too many threes. You can't shoot 28 threes on the road and expect to win. We forced some late. Their defense has great length on the perimeter with Yeboah and Baker. Trent's not going to go 2-for-13 very often."
On what adjustments should have been made: "Rutgers' difference making stretch came while we made defensive mistakes. We needed to keep them out of transition. We took some really bad shots, and they compounded each other. We're usually able to put the ball in Ayo's hands, and it was evident we couldn't get much going because of that.
On the change in game plan with Ayo out: "There's no question it was different. He's one of the best players in the county and we're asking someone else to step in that role. I loved our fight. The difference in the game was points off turnovers and transition defense. We haven't been good at that the last few games and we can correct that pretty easily. We will clean that up."
On Ayo's leadership: "He has a ton of experience and there's a confidence level that comes with it. There has been great role identification on this team, and now those roles have changed. That means extended minutes. Mistakes happen in that time frame and that was evident that it happened.
"We needed to let him settle down and see the game from the bench. Giorgi is a terrific player and he's going to have a great career. We wanted him to see how the game was going, keep his emotions in check and insert him in. He impacted the game today with seven rebounds. We have to get him more than four shots."
On Ron Harper's potential: "I love his body, I love his skillset. He's a terrific small ball four-man matchup. There's no doubt he has some pretty good genetics. I'm a big fan of his."
Update on Ayo: "He's day-to-day. You're not going to rush him back where he can enhance the injury. We have fantastic doctors and they're keep plugging away. The blessing is there is no structural damage. The potential is there that it's not season ending or anything significant that can damage his career."
On the rotation going forward: "It will be performance-based. We can't shoot the ball like we did tonight. I should have come back with Da'Monte a little more, but the spacing on the floor didn't allow those guys to hit the shots."
Gallery: (2/15/2020) Men's Basketball Downs No. 22 Illinois
