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Illinois Postgame Notes

Illinois 66, Rutgers 54
State Farm Center // Feb. 3, 2015 // Attendance: 12,838 


1. Illinois improved to 11-1 this season at State Farm Center, marking the best start at home under head coach John Groce. The Illini also are 4-1 in Big Ten play at State Farm Center, which is their best home conference start since 2012.

2. The Orange and Blue earned consecutive victories for the first time since winning three in a row over Hampton, Missouri and Kennesaw State to close out non-conference play (Dec. 17-27).

3. It also marks Illinois' first winning streak in Big Ten play since recording three straight conference victories last season on Feb. 19 (at Minnesota), Feb. 26 (Nebraska) and March 1 (at Michigan State).

4. Illinois connected on 25-of-52 (48.1 percent) from the field, its best shooting percentage in a Big Ten game this year.

5. UI was perfect from the free throw line for the first time this season, drilling 9-of-9 from the charity stripe. The Illini increased their second-best free throw percentage in the nation to 79.7 percent.

6. Trailing 20-19 with 7:06 remaining in the first half, the Illini closed the opening stanza on a 16-4 run, including an 8-0 spurt over the final 3:46 for a 35-24 halftime edge. UI continued the surge into the second half, making it a 28-10 run for a 47-30 lead, its largest of the game.

7. Illinois also made 10-of-12 field goals over the final 9:05 of the first half.

8. Sophomore Kendrick Nunn posted a game-high 21 points and equaled a career-high four assists to go along with a team-high six rebounds.

9. Sophomore Jaylon Tate dished out a game-high six assists, marking his fifth consecutive game with five-plus assists. Tate is averaging 6.2 assists per game over that span and only 1.4 turnovers (31 assists, 7 turnovers).

10. Sophomore Malcolm Hill (15 points) scored in double figures for the eighth straight game and 20th time this season.

11. Freshman Leron Black reached double figures for the fourth time this year, contributing 12 points on 5-of-6 shooting.

12. Senior Nnanna Egwu equaled his career high with three assists.

13. Senior Ahmad Starks collected 13 points, helping give the Illini a 15-4 edge in bench points.

14. To recognize the 10th anniversary of the 2004-05 Fighting Illini team that won a school-record 37 games and finished as national runner-up, bobbleheads of the starting five from that beloved squad are being given out to 1,000 fans at each Big Ten weeknight home game this season. Tonight's game featured the bobblehead of Luther Head, who started all 39 games as a senior, earning consensus second-team All-America honors. Head topped the Illini in scoring, averaging 15.9 points, and led the Big Ten with 116 three-pointers, setting a UI single-season record that still stands.