College Wrap: Rutgers men’s basketball drops Big Ten opener to Illinois

PISCATAWAY — Terrence Shannon Jr. had 23 points and 10 rebounds, and No. 24 Illinois beat Rutgers 76-58 on Saturday in the Big Ten opener for both schools.

Marcus Domask added 15 points for the Illini (6-1), who won at Rutgers for the first time since Feb. 25, 2018.

Austin Williams and Aundre Hyatt scored nine points apiece for the Scarlet Knights (5-2), whose five-game winning streak ended.

The game featured the top two defenses in the Big Ten, with Rutgers holding opponents to 55.5 points and Illinois allowing 58.7. Rutgers shot 33.3% from the field (20 of 60).

Illinois went on a 17-2 spurt midway through the second half to take its largest lead at 67-44. Shannon made three 3s during the run.

The Illini opened the game on a 14-2 run, with Quincy Guerrier contributing seven points, but Rutgers closed within 41-36 at halftime thanks to an 18-9 run over the final 7:06.

TCNJ 76, NJCU 70

EWING — Khalid Bakare came off the bench to score 14 points and lead four in double figures as the Lions (7-1, 3-0) held off the Gothic Knights (2-5, 1-2). David Alexandre added 12 points and nine rebounds as TCNJ won its fifth in a row.

Women’s Basketball

Monmouth 62, Rider 42

LAWRENCEVILLE — Kaci Donovan scored 23 points and the defending CAA champion Hawks (3-4) rode a hot start to down their former MAAC rival Broncs (2-5). Taylor Langan tallied 14 points for Rider, which has lost three in a row.

NJCU 69, TCNJ 62

EWING — Izzy Leazier put in 19 points, but the Lions (3-4 1-2) couldn’t slow down All-American guard Damaris Rodriguez, who scored a game-high 28 points for the Gothic Knights (4-2, 3-0).