Rutgers downs No. 12 Illinois, 4th straight vs ranked team

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Rutgers isn’t just beating ranked teams, they are dominating them with a relentless hard-nosed style of play.

No. 12 Illinois became the fourth straight ranked team to fall to the Scarlet Knights, getting beat 70-59 on Wednesday night. Rutgers' run is almost sure to get Steve Pikiell's team a ranking for the first time this season and a berth in the NCAA Tournament for a second straight season.

Pikiell wasn't ready claim anything after the game, saying he will wait under March 13 for the official NCAA Tournament announcement.

"I think we can play anybody," Pikiell said. "We can play anybody, any place and win games in any tournament."

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Rutgers guard Geo Baker (0) celebrates with Aundre Hyatt during the second half of the team's NCAA college basketball game against Illinois on Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2022, in Piscataway, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

Cliff Omoruyi had 15 points, 13 rebounds and a reverse alley-oop dunk in a game-breaking second run for Rutgers.

"All the credit in the world to them," Illinois coach Brad Underwood said. "That was that was something my team hasn’t seen in a long, long time ... They deserve all the credit. We had no life, no spirit and no fight."

The winning streak against ranked teams is the longest in school history for the Scarlet Knights (16-9, 10-5 Big Ten). There's a chance to continue the streak with games next week at No. 5 Purdue and home against No. 15 Wisconsin. The last team to win four straight against ranked teams in the regular season was Michigan State in 2019-20.

Ron Harper Jr. added 16 points and eight rebounds and had the assist on Omoruyi's