Remarkable run to finish 1st half helps No. 16 Illinois bury Rutgers

No. 16 Illinois reeled off the final 20 points of the first half to fuel an 81-55 Big Ten victory over Rutgers on Thursday night in Champaign, Ill.

The Fighting Illini (12-3, 3-1) held the Scarlet Knights (8-8, 1-4) scoreless for the final 8:11 of the first half - a stretch of 13 fruitless possessions - to seize a 43-16 halftime lead.

Keaton Wagler paced a balanced Illinois attack with 17 points and seven rebounds. Tomislav Ivisic scored 14 points, while Jake Davis and Andrej Stojakovic added 12 points apiece.