Another game against a ranked opponent, another blowout loss for Rutgers.
The Scarlet Knights suffered an 81-55 loss to No. 16 Illinois in Champaign on Thursday night. It marks their fourth defeat in as many games against teams ranked in the Associated Press Top 25, with an average margin of defeat of 27 points in those games.
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Rutgers (8-8, 1-4) has now lost six games by double digits. Its average margin of defeat across its eight losses is 25.8 points.
The Scarlet Knights trailed the Illini (11-4, 3-1) for the final 37 minutes and 27 seconds, falling behind by as many as 27 points. The game was decided in the final eight minutes and 11 seconds of the first half, then Rutgers conceded a 20-0 run to the hosts. The Scarlet Knights missed 12 consecutive field goal attempts in that stretch.
Rutgers shot 21.4% from the floor in the first half (6-of-28), rebounding just three of its 22 missed field goal attempts.
On the whole, Rutgers shot 41.2% on layups, 41.4% on non-rim two-pointers, 27.3% on threes and 37.5% on free throws. It had more players go scoreless (guard Jamichael Davis, forward Denis Badalau, center Baye Fall) than players score in double-digits (freshman guards Kaden Powers, who had 12 points on 5-of-12 shooting, and freshman Harun Zrno, who had 11 points on 4-of-9 shooting).
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The Scarlet Knights struggled to contain the Illini on the boards, giving up 12 offensive rebounds on 33 missed field goals; on the perimeter, giving up 11 made threes on 31 attempts; and inside, giving up 26 points in the paint.
Rutgers returns to action on Sunday against Northwestern in Piscataway.
