MADISON, WI – Rutgers (18-10, 9-8) shot 50 percent (30-of-60) and outscored Wisconsin (17-10, 10-6) 42-16 in the paint, but could not overcome the Badgers' 11 3-pointers in a 79-71 loss Sunday afternoon at the Kohl Center. Ron Harper Jr. scored a game-high 21 points and Geo Baker eclipsed 1,000 points for his career in the hard-fought defeat.
 
"I knew it would be tough to come in here," said Rutgers head coach Steve Pikiell. "But I'm proud of my guys, we work, we continue to grind. Wisconsin made free throws down the stretch. They made threes. Those were two huge keys for us, and they got us."
 
Harper was 9-of-16 from the field with a team-best nine rebounds, while Baker dished-out six assists. They were joined in double figures by Montez Mathis, who 12 contributed points on 5-of-8 shooting with three steals.
 
Trailing by 16 points with 10 minutes remaining, Rutgers fought back within five, but could not complete the comeback. Wisconsin, which had 16 more attempts at the charity stripe than RU, sealed its victory by making 15 free throws down the stretch.
 
Both offenses were in high gear at the start. Rutgers made nine-of-12 shots to open the game, but Wisconsin countered with four 3-pointers to establish a 28-18 lead.
 
The Scarlet Knights' defense kicked in, holding the Badgers to a five-minute scoring drought, as RU battled back. Rutgers shot 50% from the field in the opening half (13-of-26), but Wisconsin finished the half on an 8-0 run and capitalized on six made 3-pointers to enter the halftime locker room with a 39-26 lead.
 
Harper Jr. got hot after the break, scoring nine points in the first three minutes of the frame. A 6-0 run brought RU to within 10 points at the 12-minute mark.
 
After the under-eight media timeout, RU made five-of-six shots, led by two 3-pointers from Mathis, to get within seven, 61-54, courtesy of a 10-3 run.
 
Another late push reduced the deficit to five with 2:19 remaining. Sparked by its sell-out crowd, however, the Badgers closed out their fifth victory in their last six games, while improving to 13-1 at home.
 
"These are all tough venues," said Pikiell. "Not a lot of people come into Wisconsin and have success. We'll have a chance if we keep playing hard and fighting through the obstacles this league brings, especially on the road."
 
Rutgers returns to action Wednesday evening in a 7 p.m. tip-off at No. 9 Penn State. The game will be televised on BTN with Jason Horowitz and Shon Morris on the call. The Scarlet Knights' remaining schedule ranks as the nation's toughest per the ESPN BPI. 
 
POSTGAME NOTES

• Geo Baker scored 16 points to increase his career total to 1,0003. He becomes the 44th player in Rutgers men's basketball history to reach the millennium mark.
• Baker had six assists, giving him 300 for his career. He passed Rick Dadika to move into 15th place all-time at RU.
• Geo Baker has averaged 16.4 points over his last five games, while Ron Harper Jr. has averaged 16.0.
• Rutgers' 71 points tied for the most points for an opponent at the Kohl Center this season.
• Rutgers has grabbed more rebounds than its opponent in 20 of 28 games this season.
• The Scarlet Knights shot 50 percent, reaching that mark for the second time in a Big Ten game this season. It marked the fourth time this season RU shot at least 50 percent in a game.
• UW entered the game ranked 15th nationally in assist-turnover ratio (1.35). Rutgers forced them into 11 turnovers, higher than their season average, and a ratio of 1.18.
• Wisconsin's 11 turnovers tied for its most since Dec. 31.
• The Badgers entered the contest 17th nationally in scoring defense at 61.9, with Rutgers scoring 9.1 points above that average.
• Geo Baker reached double-figure scoring for the 14th time this season and 56th time in his career.
• Ron Harper Jr. reached double-figure scoring for the 17th time this season and 27th time in his career.
• Montez Mathis reached double-figure scoring for the 9th time this season and 22nd time in his career.
• Rutgers had a starting lineup comprised of Geo Baker, Montez Mathis, Ron Harper Jr., Akwasi Yeboah and Shaq Carter for the third straight game.

POSTGAME QUOTES

Rutgers Head Coach Steve Pikiell
 
Opening Statement: "Great environment here. Coach Gard does a great job with the team. They've been playing great basketball. I knew it would be tough to come in here. But I'm proud of my guys, we work, we continue to grind. Wisconsin made free throws down the stretch. They made threes. Those were two huge keys for us, and they got us."
 
On Wisconsin making 3-pointers: "They got off to a good start. They were shooting the ball well, and that dictates your game plan. They don't give you a lot of time, so you better be there on the catch. I thought we settled down in the second half. We had a lot of turnovers in the first half. And they have a lot of shooters, more now than the first time we played them. They're a tough team to play. You have to pick your poison."
 
On playing on the road: "These are all tough venues. Not a lot of people come into Wisconsin and have success. We'll have a chance if we keep playing hard and fighting through the obstacles this league brings, especially on the road."

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