Rutgers Scarlet Knights 55, Illinois Fighting Illini 81
NCAA Men's · 2026-01-08 · Winner: Illinois Fighting Illini
Illinois Fighting Illini defeated Rutgers Scarlet Knights 81–55 on 2026-01-08 in NCAA Men's play, a 26-point result. A 10-0 home team run ending at H1 11:03 swung win probability 72% → 95%. Below is the quarter-by-quarter linescore, a win-probability timeline, and an automated breakdown of why Rutgers Scarlet Knights lost.
Linescore
| H1 | H2 | Final | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rutgers Scarlet Knights | 16 | 39 | 55 |
| Illinois Fighting Illini | 43 | 38 | 81 |
Win probability
Turning point — A 10-0 home team run ending at H1 11:03 swung win probability 72% → 95%.
Why Rutgers Scarlet Knights lost
- Lost H1 16-43 - the worst stretch of the game.
- Gave up a 20-0 run ending at H1 0:01 (win probability 85% → 100% for the home side).
- Shot 41.3% eFG vs a 47.2% season average - a cold night.
- Outscored 18-3 at the free-throw line.
Scoring runs
| Team | Run | Ends | Win-prob swing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Illinois Fighting Illini | 10–0 | H1 11:03 | 72% → 95% |
| Illinois Fighting Illini | 20–0 | H1 0:01 | 85% → 100% |