Wisconsin holds Rutgers in check for easy win

Field Level Media|published: Mon 6th January, 21:47 2025

Jan 6, 2025; Piscataway, New Jersey, USA; Rutgers Scarlet Knights guard Jordan Derkack (0) looks to pass as Wisconsin Badgers guard Jack Janicki (33) defends during the first half at Jersey Mike's Arena. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

John Blackwell scored 21 points and Steven Crowl added 18 points and 10 rebounds to help Wisconsin record a 75-63 victory over Rutgers on Monday night in Big Ten play at Piscataway, N.J.

John Tonje added 15 points and nine rebounds as the Badgers (12-3, 2-2 Big Ten) won their fourth consecutive game. Wisconsin never trailed and led by as many as 16 points.

Tyson Acuff scored a season-high 17 points for Rutgers (8-7, 1-3). Dylan Harper was scoreless in 15 minutes of action while struggling with an illness that forced him to miss a loss to Indiana last Thursday.

Fellow freshman star Ace Bailey was just 3-of-16 shooting and scored nine points and grabbed seven rebounds before fouling out on a double technical call with 1:46 left in the game. Bailey matched the Scarlet Knights' single-game freshman scoring record for a Big Ten game with 39 points against the Hoosiers.

Wisconsin shot 54.4 percent from the field, making 7 of 22 attempts from 3-point range. Max Klesmit exited with 10:08 left in the contest due to an ankle injury. He had three points in 24 minutes.

The Scarlet Knights made 34.2 percent of their shots from the floor and were 7-for-26 from behind the arc while losing for the third time in four games.

Acuff received good fortune when his 3-pointer hit the back rim and bounced higher than the shot clock before coming down through the net to bring Rutgers within 56-52 with 9:22 left in the game.

Jamichael Davis' layup put the Scarlet Knights within 58-55 with 7:50 remaining.

Tonje drained a step-back 3-pointer to give the Badgers a 63-57 advantage with 5:59 to play. Crowl scored on a putback dunk to make it an eight-point margin with 4:22 left.

Tonje made two free throws -- Wisconsin's first of the game -- to make it 67-59 with 3:28 to play. Kamari McGee drove for a layup exactly one minute later, and the Badgers led by 10. Blackwell followed with four straight free throws to make it 73-59 with 1:30 left as Wisconsin closed out the victory.

Blackwell scored 13 first-half points and Crowl added 12 as the Badgers led 43-34 at the break.

Wisconsin opened the game with six straight points and 12 of the first 15. Later, Blackwell's layup capped a 10-0 spurt to make it 24-11 Wisconsin with 8:36 left in the first half.

A 3-pointer by Crowl pushed the Badgers' advantage to 33-17 with 5:26 left.

Acuff had 11 points in the first half for Rutgers.

--Field Level Media