Wisconsin Badgers vs Rutgers Scarlet Knights Box Score on Dec 11, 2019

Geo Baker scored a game-high 20 points Wednesday night as Rutgers controlled the second half for a 72-65 Big 10 Conference win over Wisconsin in Piscataway, N.J.

Myles Johnson added 12 for the Scarlet Knights (7-3, 1-1), which made 55.2 percent of their field goals in the second half and dominated the boards to the tune of 40-25. Rutgers also turned 14 Badgers turnovers into 22 points.

Kobe King tallied 18 points and Trevor Anderson scored 11 for Wisconsin (5-5, 1-1), but it couldn't maintain its 54.5 percent shooting of the first half after halftime. The Badgers canned just 42.3 percent from the floor, including 3 of 12 from the 3-point line, and were outscored 42-28 in the paint.

A 7-0 run early in the second half, including a driving layup by Akwasi Yeboah with 17:15 left, gave the Scarlet Knights the lead for good. Nate Reuvers pulled Wisconsin within 63-60 with 2:01 remaining by banking in a 3-pointer, but Caleb McConnell's 3-point play in the last minute sealed the outcome for Rutgers.

Offensive rebounding was another big factor. The Scarlet Knights carved out a 23-5 advantage in second-chance points, holding the Badgers to three offensive boards.

The first-half storylines didn't take long to make themselves known. When Wisconsin got into its half-court offense without turning the ball over, it usually got a good shot and converted. When it didn't, Rutgers was able to cash in on a spate of turnovers.

To start the game, the Scarlet Knights raced out to a 9-0 lead as the Badgers coughed it up four times in their first five possessions. After that, Wisconsin found some traction, closing within 18-17 on Tyler Wahl's layup with 7:08 left in the half.

Rutgers expanded the advantage to 32-24 as Baker converted a turnover into a short jumper, but the Badgers closed out the half with nine straight points. A 3-pointer by Anderson just before time expired enabled Wisconsin to head to the locker room ahead 33-32.

--Field Level Media