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By Tom Luicci
ScarletKnights.com

PISCATAWAY, N.J. - The toughest three-game stretch of Rutgers' season - and one of the more difficult ones in program history - was everything it was cracked up to be.

Now the Scarlet Knights get a much-needed break to regroup in their quest for that elusive sixth victory for bowl eligibility.

Unable to muster anything offensively, Rutgers was beaten, 37-0, by Wisconsin today, disappointing a rain-soaked sellout crowd of 52,797 at High Point Solutions Stadium - the Scarlet Knights' third straight defeat. It was the school's first time being shut out at home since West Virginia managed the feat on Oct. 12, 2002.

Following a three-game stretch of playing at Ohio State, at Nebraska and then home to the Badgers, Rutgers (5-4 overall, 1-4 Big Ten) has a bye week to collect itself before closing out the home portion of its season on Nov. 15 when Indiana visits.

Running back Melvin Gordon rushed for 128 yards and two touchdowns on 19 carries and backfield partner Corey Clement added 128 yards and two scores on 19 carries as the Badgers improved to 6-2 overall and 3-2 in the Big Ten.

Wisconsin left little doubt as to the outcome with Gordon and Clement each scoring on long second-half touchdown runs and placekicker Rafael Gaglianone converting a 46-yard field goal, his third of the game, in the second half. Those 17 points padded a 20-0 halftime lead.

Gordon's third-quarter touchdown run, his 18^th of the season, covered 18 yards. Clemet scored his second touchdown on a 36-yard run with 12:56 to play.

Rutgers did not top 100 yards of total offense until 2:31 was left to play against the Big Ten's top-ranked defense. The Scarlet Knights had just five first downs to that point. They finished with 139 yards of offense.

Not even the presence of senior Gary Nova at quarterback (he was a game-time decision after missing the second half of last week's Nebraska's game) could provide an offensive spark. The senior finished 5-of-15 passing for 46 yards with one interception before being replaced by redshirt freshman Chris Laviano.

But Laviano struggled as well, missing on nine of his first 10 pass attempts. He finished 2-of-12 for 17 yards.

The defense, for as long as it could, did its part in holding Wisconsin to 161 yards of total offense in the first half, but a couple of costly mistakes then proved to be Rutgers' undoing early, setting the tone for what would be a lopsided affair.

With a defensive battle unfolding at the outset, the tenor of the first half changed when Wisconsin's A.J. Jordan blocked Tim Gleeson's punt, putting the Badgers at the Scarlet Knights' 20 yard line late in the first quarter of a scoreless game.

Gordon cashed in the mistake with a 13-yard touchdown run off a third down and three for a 7-0 Wisconsin lead.

Rutgers continued to get inspired play from its defense until midway in the second quarter, when Clement ripped off a 43-yard touchdown run for a 14-0 Badgers advantage with 9:36 left before halftime. Prior to that, Wisconsin's longest play had covered 14 yards.

Linebacker Marcus Trotter's interception off Nova and 18-yard return led to Rafael Gaglianone's 32-yard field goal as the Badgers extended their second quarter lead to 17-0 with 3:17 remaining before the half time break. Gaglianone, a freshman, then added a 27-yard field goal six seconds before halftime.