Illinois competed for most of the game. Five minutes into the game, we were only down 9-4. That deficit was quickly erased, and the Illini had the lead 14-13 with 10 minutes to go until halftime. There were a ton of lead changes throughout the game. Rutgers managed to pull ahead by five points at 28-23 with five minutes to go in the first half.
A little run by Illinois helped tie the game up at 32-32 with a little over a minute to go until halftime. Rutgers then made one more shot. The Scarlet Knights went into the halftime locker room up 34-32 on the Orange and Blue.