Box Score CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -The Rutgers men's basketball team took a tough road loss on Sunday afternoon in Champaign.

The Scarlet Knights were defeated by the Fighting Illini 86-63. RU cut the lead down to just five points with 11:36 remaining in the second half following an 11-1 Scarlet Knights run.

Illinois went on a 30-11 run to close out the win in the last ten minutes of the game.

Senior center Clifford Omoruyi led the way for the Scarlet Knights with 22 points, nine rebounds, and a block. Omoruyi had 13 points in the first half and dominated in the post all game.

Grad forward Aundre Hyatt scored 11 points and had five rebounds. Grad guard Noah Fernandes scored ten points on 4-of-7 shooting off the bench.

Illinois outscored RU 50-32 in the paint and outrebounded Rutgers 46 to 32. Senior guard Justin Harmon led the way for the Fighting Illini with 18 points. Harmon was 8-for-13 from the field and added eight rebounds.
Senior guard Terrence Shannon Jr. had 16 points and made eight free throws off the bench. Senior starting forward Quentin Guerrier scored 15 points and had 11 rebounds. Senior forward Coleman Hawkins had 12 points, eight rebounds and four assists. Senior forward Marcus Domask rounded out the double-digit scorers for the Illini with 12 points.

Up next Rutgers returns home for a home game against the Purdue Boilermakers on Sunday at noon. The game is a national broadcast televised on FOX.
   
Postgame Quotes

Head Coach Steve Pikiell
 
On game takeaways:

"We fought today. We played a really good basketball team today in Illinois. They got their guy back too. We clawed back in, missed way too many layups, and had problems on the backboards, we didn't use all 40 minutes on the road to the best of our ability today. We had a good scouting report and good practice leading up to it, but we have to give them credit. This is a tough place to play."
 
On defending Quentin Guerrier:

"We put a lot of focus on Marcus Domask and they all play lights-out basketball. Guerrier has got a lot of answers, Coleman Hawkins is a problem, and now they have Terrence Shannon Jr. back. They all can do a lot of things, Justin Harmon came off the bench too, and did well. Our defense wasn't what it needed to be, and I was disappointed in that. They drove into the lane and I need to do a better job against a really good team. We need to play better for 40 minutes."
 
On positive outlooks from the game:

"Clifford (Omoruyi) has done a fantastic job in changing his approach. I thought Noah (Fernandes) gave us some fire too off the bench. I need a lot more from a lot more guys. Especially when you are playing the 14th-ranked team in the country on the road."