PISCATAWAY, N.J. — Dylan Harper made a significant impact upon his return by scoring 28 points, while fellow freshman Ace Bailey contributed with 18 points and 11 rebounds, leading Rutgers to a victory over No. 23 Illinois with a final score of 82-73 on Wednesday night.

Harper excelled at the free-throw line, converting 11 of 12 attempts, and also recorded six rebounds and five assists in his return after missing the previous game against Michigan due to a sprained ankle, which ended in a tight 66-63 defeat.

Jeremiah Williams added 13 points to his team’s total, helping Rutgers improve to 12-11 overall and 5-7 in the Big Ten. This victory marked the Scarlet Knights’ first win against a ranked opponent since they defeated then-No. 9 Wisconsin last February. Rutgers has managed to win two out of their last three games.

For Illinois, which fell to 15-8 and 7-6 in conference play, Will Riley was the standout scorer with 20 points, while Ben Humrichous contributed 14 points. The Illini have struggled recently, losing four out of their last six games.

Rutgers surged ahead early in the game, establishing a commanding 23-6 lead before Illinois managed to take its first lead at 48-47 with just over 13 minutes remaining.

Noteworthy statistics include Illinois’ poor performance from long range, making only 6 of 28 attempts from beyond the arc, marking their sixth consecutive game without surpassing a 30% shooting rate from three-point territory. For Rutgers, Bailey is making his mark, currently ranking fourth in the team’s scoring records for the season.

A pivotal moment in the game came when Harper stole the ball and connected on a 3-pointer, giving Rutgers a 66-62 advantage with just 6:34 left on the clock.

In terms of free-throw performance, Rutgers was impressive, sinking 28 of their 34 attempts.

Looking ahead, Illinois is scheduled to face Minnesota on Saturday, while Rutgers will travel to play against No. 18 Maryland on Sunday.