CHAMPAIGN — Coleman Hawkins scored 18 points and Illinois held No. 24 Rutgers scoreless for more than 10 minutes in the second half, rallying for a 69-60 victory Saturday.
The Illinois (17-7, 8-5 Big Ten) trailed 47-41 with 14½ minutes left before Hawkins’ 3-pointer started a 19-0 run. Rutgers (16-9, 8-6) missed 15 straight shots during the drought.
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Hawkins hit four consecutive shots — including a 3 — and gave the Illini the lead for good at 48-47.
Matthew Mayer scored his first points and drew a foul at the 7:25 mark, hit the ensuing free throw, then made a 3-pointer one possession later to give Illinois a 60-47 cushion with 6:45 left. Oskar Palmquist finally hit a jumper to break the Rutgers slump.
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Hawkins also had eight rebounds. Dain Dainja and Terrence Shannon Jr. each added 15 points for the Illini.
Caleb McConnell and Clifford Omoruyi scored 14 points apiece to lead the Scarlet Knights.
Rutgers led 34-30 at halftime after Paul Mulcahy hit consecutive jumpers and Illinois missed its last six shots.
Rutgers: vs. Nebraska on Tuesday
Illinois: at Penn State on Tuesday.
