MADISON, Wis. – Rutgers (5-3, 0-2) shot 47 percent and battled No. 12 (8-1, 2-0) Wisconsin for the entirety, but were unable to pull the upset in a 69-64 loss Monday evening at the Kohl Center. The Scarlet Knights built a 10-point advantage in the opening half and led at the midpoint, but the Badgers shot 59 percent after the break to ensure the comeback victory.
"I thought we had a good game plan and I thought we executed it," said Rutgers head coach
Steve Pikiell. "But obviously we have to play elite on both ends of the ball in an environment like this."
Three Scarlet Knights scored in double-figures, led by
Eugene Omoruyi's 17 points.
Geo Baker added 15, while
Peter Kiss contributed 12.
Shaq Carter posted a career-high nine points off the bench.
For the second consecutive contest against a ranked opponent, RU protected the ball well, committing eight turnovers in the hostile setting of 17,082 UW fans.
"Our young guys are getting better," said Pikiell. "They're figuring it out. And we'll be better in the next round of conference play."
Rutgers utilized scoring from its backcourt in the early going, as five points from Kiss, along with seven from Baker, staked the visitors an eight point, 14-6, lead. The Scarlet Knights opened shooting 10-of-16 and used an 8-0 run to push its advantage to 24-15.
Carter gave the Scarlet Knights valuable first-half contributions in a reserve role with seven points. His old fashioned 3-point play provided RU its largest lead, 27-17.
Wisconsin pushed back, but the Scarlet Knights entered the locker room at the midpoint with a 31-26 edge after having led the entire opening 20 minutes. Rutgers shot 54 percent (14-of-26), its best shooting performance in the first half this season.
The Badgers made their first four shots out of the locker room, starting the frame on a 9-2 run, to take their first lead at 35-33. That run extended to 24-12, as UW deposited 11-of-18 to extend its advantage to seven at 50-43.
After a strong shooting performance in the opening half, the visitors struggled to tweak the twine early in the second stanza. The Scarlet Knights did not relent, and consecutive 3-pointers from Kiss and Baker brought the visitors back within six points at 58-52 with three minutes remaining.
Rutgers reduced its deficit to five in the final minutes, but could get no closer in the hard-fought loss.
Rutgers returns to the hardwood on Saturday at Fordham in a 2:30 p.m. tip-off at the historic Rose Hill Gymnasium. The match-up will be televised live on the CBS Sports Network with Dave Ryan and Bob Wenzel on the call.
Fans can secure single game tickets for Rutgers home games, as well as flex ticket plans,
online or by calling 866-445-GORU (4678). Additional information can obtained by visiting
RutgersGameday.com.
POSTGAME NOTES
- Tonight's contest marked RU's third in a span of six days, including two on the road, against opponents ranked or receiving votes.
- RU's four early December Big Ten games since the home and home match-ups began last season have all been against foes ranked in the top 12. The Scarlet Knights played at No. 12 Minnesota and hosted No. 3 Michigan State in 2017, while welcoming the No. 9 Spartans and playing at No. 12 Wisconsin this year.
- Eugene Omoruyi had 17 points, his 18th career double-digit scoring game and seventh this season.
- Geo Baker had 15 points, his 27th career double-digit scoring game and seventh this season.
- Peter Kiss posted 12 points, his 27th career double-digit scoring game and sixth this season.
- Shaq Carter had a career-high in points (nine), rebounds (four) and minutes (18).
- Omoruyi took his team-leading 12th charge of the season.
- Rutgers shot 54 percent in the first half (14-of-26), its best in an opening half this season
- Rutgers held Wisconsin's Ethan Happ, who entered as the second-leading rebounder in the Big Ten at 11.6 rebounds per game, to a season-low four rebounds.
- Rutgers starting lineup consisted of Geo Baker, Peter Kiss, Issa Thiam, Eugene Omoruyi and Shaquille Doorson for the eighth time in as many games.
- Rutgers is 2-7 all-time against the Badgers in the series that dates back to 1949. Pikiell is 1-3 against the Badgers during his tenure "On the Banks."
POSTGAME QUOTES
Rutgers Head Coach Steve Pikiell
Opening Statement: "This is a great league and a great venue here. The fans were into it. This was a very good basketball team we played tonight. We hung around a little bit but it's a 40-minute game. Credit to Wisconsin. They've got good players. Ethan Happ took over when he had to. He's terrific, he's a matchup problem. They made some shots and we didn't."
On limiting D'MItrik Trice: "He's really good. We tried to limit his touches. When you have only a two-day prep, you can't do a lot. You can't re-invent the wheel. We just tried to play really good defense and make it difficult for him to get clean looks. Happ too, is a problem. He makes a lot of things happen. He had his way, especially in the second half. But we're growing, too as a program. Our young guys are getting better. They're figuring it out. And we'll be better in the next round of conference play."
On having early momentum: "I know, when we're on the road against a team like this, they don't turn the ball over. A 10-point lead doesn't mean a lot in a tough place like this to play. I thought they came out in the second half and got on a roll. We needed some timely baskets to go in. They're well coached. Coach Gard does a great job. They've got good players at a lot of spots. I thought we had a good game plan, and I thought we executed it. But obviously we have to play elite on both ends of the ball in an environment like this."
