Baker Bounces Back, Rutgers Beats Wisconsin 72-65
PISCATAWAY, N.J. (AP) — Geo Baker had 22 points, bouncing back from his worst game of the season, to lead Rutgers past Wisconsin 72-65 on Wednesday night.
Baker had just four points on 1-of-7 shooting in Rutgers’ loss at No. 11 Michigan State on Sunday night, having come into that game averaging 13 points per game. He was 9-of-18 in the win over Wisconsin (5-5, 1-1 Big Ten).
Rutgers (7-3, 1-1) opened the game with a 9-0 run and never trailed until Baker was stripped by Aleem Ford in the final seconds of the first half while driving the lane for a layup. Forder hit Trevor Anderson on the outlet pass and he sank a three-pointer from the left win at the buzzer to give the Badgers 33-32 halftime lead.
However, it wouldn’t last long.
After trading a couple of leads, Akwasi Yeboah stole the ball from Nate Reuvers and had a fast-break layup to give Rutgers a 38-36 lead at the 17:15 mark. Yeboah would score eight points and grab eight rebounds before fouling out with 1:30 to go. Rutgers would lead by as many as nine with under a minute left.
Kobe King led Wisconsin with 18 points.
Myles Johnson added 12 points and seven rebounds for Rutgers.
BIG PICTURE
Wisconsin: The Badgers are still seeking their first road win of the season as they drop back to .500. They’ll have three more non-conference games, including at No. 19 Tennessee to improve that record before it’s back to conference play against No. 3 Ohio State.
Rutgers: The Scarlets Knights got a much-needed win in the midst of their toughest four-game stretch of the season thus far. After losing at Pitt and No. 11 Michigan State to open Big Ten play, Rutgers bounced back before its big rivalry game against No.22 Seton Hall. They’ll then have two more non-conference games before it’s back to Big Ten play.
UP NEXT
Wisconsin: Host Milwaukee on Saturday, Dec. 21.
Rutgers: Host intrastate rival No. 22 Seton Hall on Saturday.
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