Bench Boosts Illinois To 75-62 Win at Rutgers

PISCATAWAY, N.J. (AP) – Michael Finke and Aaron Jordan came off the bench to combine for 34 points and lead Illinois past Rutgers 75-62 on Sunday.

Finke scored 19 points on 6-of-10 shooting and Jordan poured in 15 points on 5-of-7 shooting as Illinois' bench outscored Rutgers' 37-5. 

Deshawn Freeman blocked a shot by Trent Frazier and then assisted Eugene Omoruyi (14 points) on a fast-break layup to give Rutgers (13-18, 3-15 Big Ten) a 36-35 lead.

However, Frazier answered with a 3-pointer as Illinois (14-17, 4-14) retook a lead they would never surrender, building it to as much as 15.

Illinois led 15-9 after Mark Alstork made a layup midway through the first half. While Rutgers was able to overcome the early deficit and trade leads, Illinois was able to build a lead of seven before taking a 35-30 lead into half.

Leron Black added 14 points for the Fighting Illini, who picked up their first road win of the season.

Corey Sanders scored 18 points, six rebounds and four assists for Rutgers.

The Fighting Illini will take on either Northwestern or Iowa in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday at 5:30 pm CT/4:30 CT.

Illini Postgame Notes

• With the win, Illinois finishes the 2017-18 regular season 14-17 overall and 4-14 in Big Ten play, tied for 11th place. 

• The road victory was the first for Illinois this season. The Illini went 1-10 in true road games in 2017-18. 

• The game wrapped up a string of 4 games in 8 days to close the regular season. Illinois went 2-2 in those games, beating Nebraska (2/18) and Rutgers (2/25), while falling to #2 Michigan State (2/20) and #9 Purdue (2/22). 

• The Illini bench outscored the Rutgers bench, 37-5, marking the 24th time in 31 games the Illinois bench outscored its opponent this season. 

• RS junior forward Michael Finke scored a game high 19 points, his highest point total since scoring 19 against Longwood on Dec. 13. Finke hit 6-of-10 from the field, 2-of-4 from three-point range and 5-of-7 from the FT line while pulling down six rebounds. 

• Junior guard Aaron Jordan scored 15 points on 5-of-7 FG and 2-of-3 3FG, his highest scoring output since scoring 18 points against Iowa on Jan. 11. 

• RS junior forward Leron Black scored 14 points, ending his streak of four straight 20+ point games. It was his 26th game in double figures this season. 

• Freshman Da'Monte Williams tied his career high with eight rebounds  in 16 minutes. He also had eight boards at Minnesota on Jan. 3. 

• Freshman guard Mark Smith did not play in the game due to illness. 

• The Fighting Illini head straight to New York City for the 2018 Big Ten Tournament, which starts on Wednesday, Feb. 28, rather than traveling back to Champaign-Urbana between games.