Illinois needed all 35 of Giorgi Bezhanishvili's career-high 35 points with Rutgers knocking down tough shot after tough shot — including the bucket from Ron Harper Jr. that sent the game to overtime. Some balanced scoring with three other Illini in double figures didn't hurt, either.
What it means
A 3-0 homestand was exactly what the Illini wanted from this extended stay at home in Big Ten play. Rutgers didn't make it easy, but Illinois will head back on the road for its next two games after jumping to ninth in the Big Ten standings.
What's next
Illinois (9-15, 5-8 Big Ten) gets a rematch with Ohio State (15-7, 5-6) at 6 p.