When the buzzer sounded, Dylan Harper stood motionless in the paint and gritted his teeth as he looked toward the Jersey Mike’s Arena rafters. His running mate, Ace Bailey, made a beeline to the handshake line as if he could make this night — and maybe his entire college experience — end a little faster.

A big reason why Rutgers was able to get the win was the return of Dylan Harper to the lineup. Harper has been battling an ankle injury, but he was able to play against Illinois. He did not disappoint.