Rutgers Scarlet Knights guard Ace Bailey (4) shoots over Illinois Fighting Illini guard Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn (2) during the first half, Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025, in Piscataway, N.J. Andrew Mills | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

In a surprising turn of events, No. 23 Illinois (15-8, 7-6) fell to Rutgers (12-11, 5-7) 82-73 on Wednesday, Feb. 5. The Scarlet Knights controlled the game for most of the night, and freshman forward Ace Bailey played a pivotal role in their victory.

The Scarlet Knights have two of the nation's top prospects in Ace Bailey and Dylan Harper, and they seemed destined to contend for the Big Ten. Well, things haven't really gone to plan for Rutgers so far this year as they came into Wednesday night's game against #23 Illinois at 11-11 overall and 4-7 in Big Ten play.

College basketball official Jeffrey Anderson got tangled up in a play in the Rutgers-Illinois game Wednesday, but Ace Bailey was able to get a bucket anyway.

Days after earning a road win over Northwestern, the Scarlet Knights (11-11, 4-7) fell to Michigan, 66-63, in Piscataway on Saturday. They fall to 2-4 in Big Ten home games, 3-9 in Quadrant 1 games and stay stuck to the bottom of the Big Ten standings as they look to earn a spot in the conference tournament next month.

Ace Bailey made a block and finished the play with a thunderous slam dunk that extended the Rutgers Scarlet Knights' lead against the Illinois Fighting Illini.