COLUMBUS, Ohio – Down 20 points with 13 minutes to go, Rutgers (17-8, 8-6) battled back to get within three, but could get no closer in a 72-66 loss to Ohio State (16-8, 6-7) Wednesday evening at Value City Arena. Jacob Young scored 17 points to lead three Scarlet Knights off the bench in double figures.

"Our bench played with great energy," said Rutgers head coach Steve Pikiell. "They gave us a jolt. They were active. They did a great job with their effort and energy to help us claw back into the game."

The Scarlet Knights shot 48.1 percent in the second half, while limiting the Buckeyes to a 31.8 percent mark, to spur the comeback.

"We always fight," said Pikiell. "Credit to Ohio State, they are a good team. We have to play 40 great minutes on the road. We didn't tonight overall."

Geo Baker contributed 13 points and Paul Mulcahy made 5-of-6 field goals for 12 points to supplement the scoring. Young was 7-of-9 from the field. The trio enabled a 42-23 advantage in bench points for the visitors.

Montez Mathis opened the scoring with a 3-pointer, but a scoring drought enabled OSU to jump-out to a 17-8 lead. At halftime, the home team led 45-30 behind 51.7 percent shooting. Mulcahy paced RU with 10 points before the break.

In the second half, a Baker 3-pointer opened the Scarlet Knight scoring, but the OSU advantage swelled to 20 points. Rutgers made a late push, with five straight makes enabling a 12-4 run, to cut the deficit to single digits.

The visitors made eight of nine shots down the stretch, but were unable to complete what would have been a comeback of 18 or more points in consecutive games.

"It's a difficult league with the best players and best coaches," said Pikiell. "It comes down to the little things. We didn't have a lot of prep days to get ready for this game. You have to play good basketball in this league cause every game is a war."

The contest was the first of three straight, and six of seven remaining overall, against teams either ranked or receiving votes in the polls.

Rutgers returns to action Saturday in a 4:30 p.m. tip-off at the RAC against No. 23 Illinois. The sold-out game will be televised on BTN with Cory Provus and Jess Settles on the call. The Scarlet Knights are a nation's-best 16-0 at home this season.

POSTGAME NOTES

• Rutgers made nine three-pointers, its most in conference play this season.
• Paul Mulcahy scored in double-figures for the third time this season. It was his first time doing so against a Big Ten team.
• Geo Baker scored in double figures for the 11th time this season and 53rd in his career.
• Jacob Young scored in double figures for the 10th time this season and 19th time in his career. It was his seventh time scoring in double-figures over his last 11 games played.
• Akwasi Yeboah was 6-6 at the free throw line. He is 14-14 at the charity stripe in his last two games.
• Yeboah had a season-high four assists.

 
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