Rutgers hands No. 11 Wisconsin its fourth straight loss 78-56
PISCATAWAY, N.J. (AP) Playing in his first home game of the season after sitting out due to injury and NCAA eligibility, Jeremiah Williams filled up the box score for Rutgers in its 78-56 win over No. 11 Wisconsin on Saturday.
Williams scored 18 points, dished out seven assists and grabbed five rebounds as Rutgers used a stifling defense to lead the entire game. He was 6 of 6 from the line.
The Scarlet Knights (13-10, 5-7 Big Ten) scored 15 points off 12 Wisconsin turnovers to secure their third straight win. Noah Fernandes contributed 17 points and Clifford Omoruyi added 13 points and 13 rebounds.
The 22-point victory was the largest margin of victory for Rutgers over a ranked opponent in program history.
Williams had not played a college basketball game in nearly two years (709 days) prior to being activated before Rutgers' game at Michigan on Feb. 3. The Iowa State transfer endured a season-ending Achilles injury last year and then had to sit out 20 games this season for violating the NCAA's gambling policy.
He helped Rutgers defeat Michigan, then played a big role in the Scarlet Knights victory on the road at Maryland on February 6th. Saturday was his debut in front of 8,000 at Jersey Mike's Arena.
“I just kept working and staying positive,” Williams said of his time away playing. “It's everything to play on this stage.”
Rutgers coach Steve Pikiell said Williams adds an intangible beyond his ability to score and distribute.
“I love his (Williams) personality,” Pikiell said. “He's always smiling, he loves practice and he's given us a voice on the court. I'm thankful he's out there.”
Connor Essegian and AJ Storr scored 15 and 14 points, respectively, for Wisconsin (16-8, 8-5). The Badgers never got within single digits in the second half.
“They were more aggressive than we were,” noted Wisconsin coach Greg Gard. “We were way too tentative. We didn’t respond up and down the lineup. I'm disappointed how we reacted to the pressure. That’s the biggest thing.”
The Scarlet Knights shot 59% on 3's (10 of 17).
After the Badgers closed to 54-44 on a 6-0 burst, Rutgers countered with five straight points from Fernandes to move ahead 59-44 with 8:12 remaining.
Rutgers took advantage of 11 first-half turnovers by Wisconsin to build a 37-28 lead. It was the fewest points scored in the first half for the Badgers in a Big Ten game this season.
POLL IMPLICATIONS
Wisconsin will most likely drop in the poll after losing by six points to No. 2 Purdue, four points to Michigan and now 22 points to Rutgers.
BIG PICTURE
Wisconsin: Part of the Badgers spiral is their inability to convert 3-pointers. They were just 5 of 21 against Rutgers after going 5 of 19 against Michigan and 3 of 19 against Purdue.
Rutgers: The Scarlet Knights have been buoyed by the return of Williams, who was out due to injury and NCAA eligibility. In his first two games prior to Saturday, both Rutgers' wins, he averaged 12 points and 5.5 rebounds while shooting 42.9% from the field. His emergence has provided stability to a roster that has been plagued by off-season transfers and injuries.
UP NEXT
Wisconsin: Hosts Ohio State on Tuesday night.
Rutgers: Hosts Northwestern on Thursday.
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Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
20:00 | Steven Crowl vs. Clifford Omoruyi (Scarlet Knights gains possession) | |||
19:47 | +2 | Clifford Omoruyi makes two point alley-oop dunk (Jeremiah Williams assists) | 0-2 | |
19:19 | AJ Storr turnover (bad pass) (Derek Simpson steals) | |||
19:14 | +2 | Mawot Mag makes two point layup (Derek Simpson assists) | 0-4 | |
19:14 | Max Klesmit shooting foul (Mawot Mag draws the foul) | |||
19:14 | +1 | Mawot Mag makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 0-5 | |
19:04 | Badgers turnover (10-second violation) | |||
18:56 | +2 | Jeremiah Williams makes two point jump shot | 0-7 | |
18:37 | Tyler Wahl turnover (lost ball) (Derek Simpson steals) | |||
18:15 | Derek Simpson misses two point jump shot | |||
18:13 | Chucky Hepburn defensive rebound | |||
17:48 | Max Klesmit misses three point jump shot | |||
17:46 | Steven Crowl offensive rebound | |||
17:37 | AJ Storr misses three point jump shot | |||
17:35 | Clifford Omoruyi defensive rebound | |||
17:24 | +2 | Jamichael Davis makes two point jump shot (Jeremiah Williams assists) | 0-9 | |
17:09 | Chucky Hepburn turnover (lost ball) (Mawot Mag steals) | |||
17:01 | Clifford Omoruyi misses two point layup | |||
16:59 | Steven Crowl defensive rebound | |||
16:54 | +2 | AJ Storr makes two point layup | 2-9 | |
16:34 | +2 | Clifford Omoruyi makes two point jump shot (Jeremiah Williams assists) | 2-11 | |
16:22 | Jamichael Davis blocks Max Klesmit's two point layup | |||
16:20 | Derek Simpson defensive rebound | |||
16:13 | Mawot Mag misses two point jump shot | |||
16:11 | Tyler Wahl defensive rebound | |||
15:57 | +3 | Max Klesmit makes three point jump shot (Chucky Hepburn assists) | 5-11 | |
15:37 | Jeremiah Williams misses two point jump shot | |||
15:35 | Steven Crowl defensive rebound | |||
15:27 | Clifford Omoruyi blocks Tyler Wahl's two point layup | |||
15:25 | Badgers offensive rebound | |||
15:25 | TV timeout | |||
15:18 | +2 | AJ Storr makes two point layup | 7-11 | |
14:54 | Gavin Griffiths misses two point layup | |||
14:52 | Tyler Wahl defensive rebound | |||
14:41 | AJ Storr misses three point jump shot | |||
14:39 | Jamichael Davis defensive rebound | |||
14:34 | Derek Simpson misses two point jump shot | |||
14:32 | Emmanuel Ogbole offensive rebound | |||
14:25 | Emmanuel Ogbole turnover (lost ball) (Chucky Hepburn steals) | |||
14:14 | Aundre Hyatt shooting foul (AJ Storr draws the foul) | |||
14:14 | +1 | AJ Storr makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 8-11 | |
14:14 | +1 | AJ Storr makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 9-11 | |
14:03 | Aundre Hyatt misses three point jump shot | |||
14:01 | Connor Essegian defensive rebound | |||
13:53 | Connor Essegian misses three point jump shot | |||
13:51 | Jamichael Davis defensive rebound | |||
13:31 | +2 | Clifford Omoruyi makes two point layup (Jeremiah Williams assists) | 9-13 | |
13:31 | Max Klesmit shooting foul (Clifford Omoruyi draws the foul) | |||
13:31 | +1 | Clifford Omoruyi makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 9-14 | |
13:18 | Carter Gilmore turnover (lost ball) (Jeremiah Williams steals) | |||
13:08 | +2 | Gavin Griffiths makes two point layup (Jamichael Davis assists) | 9-16 | |
13:05 | AJ Storr misses two point jump shot | |||
13:03 | Aundre Hyatt defensive rebound | |||
12:54 | Gavin Griffiths misses three point jump shot | |||
12:52 | Steven Crowl defensive rebound | |||
12:38 | Connor Essegian misses three point jump shot | |||
12:36 | Noah Fernandes defensive rebound | |||
12:26 | Jamichael Davis turnover (lost ball) (Chucky Hepburn steals) | |||
12:15 | Clifford Omoruyi blocks Tyler Wahl's two point layup | |||
12:13 | Aundre Hyatt defensive rebound | |||
12:02 | Aundre Hyatt misses three point jump shot | |||
12:00 | Steven Crowl defensive rebound | |||
11:38 | Noah Fernandes personal foul | |||
11:38 | TV timeout | |||
11:26 | Chucky Hepburn misses two point jump shot | |||
11:24 | Derek Simpson defensive rebound | |||
11:19 | +2 | Aundre Hyatt makes two point layup (Derek Simpson assists) | 9-18 | |
11:06 | Steven Crowl turnover (bad pass) (Clifford Omoruyi steals) | |||
10:43 | Mawot Mag misses two point jump shot | |||
10:41 | Steven Crowl defensive rebound | |||
10:21 | +2 | Steven Crowl makes two point dunk (Chucky Hepburn assists) | 11-18 | |
10:21 | Clifford Omoruyi shooting foul (Steven Crowl draws the foul) | |||
10:21 | +1 | Steven Crowl makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 12-18 | |
9:58 | Aundre Hyatt misses two point layup | |||
9:56 | Steven Crowl defensive rebound | |||
9:53 | Derek Simpson personal foul (AJ Storr draws the foul) | |||
9:42 | Chucky Hepburn turnover (bad pass) | |||
9:32 | +3 | Noah Fernandes makes three point jump shot (Clifford Omoruyi assists) | 12-21 | |
9:28 | Badgers 30 second timeout | |||
9:14 | +2 | Connor Essegian makes two point layup | 14-21 | |
8:42 | +2 | Clifford Omoruyi makes two point layup (Jeremiah Williams assists) | 14-23 | |
8:31 | Tyler Wahl turnover (bad pass) (Mawot Mag steals) | |||
8:24 | Mawot Mag misses two point layup | |||
8:22 | Tyler Wahl defensive rebound | |||
8:16 | +2 | AJ Storr makes two point layup | 16-23 | |
8:01 | Mawot Mag offensive foul | |||
8:01 | Mawot Mag turnover (offensive foul) | |||
7:54 | Carter Gilmore turnover (back court violation) | |||
7:54 | TV timeout | |||
7:44 | +2 | Jeremiah Williams makes two point layup | 16-25 | |
7:18 | +2 | AJ Storr makes two point layup | 18-25 | |
7:18 | Jeremiah Williams shooting foul (AJ Storr draws the foul) | |||
7:18 | +1 | AJ Storr makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 19-25 | |
7:08 | Derek Simpson turnover (lost ball) (Chucky Hepburn steals) | |||
6:55 | Connor Essegian misses two point jump shot | |||
6:53 | Jeremiah Williams defensive rebound | |||
6:46 | +2 | Jeremiah Williams makes two point layup | 19-27 | |
6:30 | +3 | Connor Essegian makes three point jump shot (Markus Ilver assists) | 22-27 | |
6:02 | +3 | Noah Fernandes makes three point jump shot (Emmanuel Ogbole assists) | 22-30 | |
6:00 | Scarlet Knights 30 second timeout | |||
5:44 | Aundre Hyatt personal foul (Chucky Hepburn draws the foul) | |||
5:44 | +1 | Chucky Hepburn makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 23-30 | |
5:44 | +1 | Chucky Hepburn makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 24-30 | |
5:30 | Jeremiah Williams misses two point layup | |||
5:28 | Emmanuel Ogbole offensive rebound | |||
5:27 | +3 | Aundre Hyatt makes three point jump shot (Derek Simpson assists) | 24-33 | |
5:03 | Nolan Winter turnover (traveling) | |||
4:52 | Jeremiah Williams misses two point jump shot | |||
4:50 | Chucky Hepburn defensive rebound | |||
4:34 | Steven Crowl misses two point hook shot | |||
4:32 | Jeremiah Williams defensive rebound | |||
4:24 | Emmanuel Ogbole offensive foul (Tyler Wahl draws the foul) | |||
4:24 | Emmanuel Ogbole turnover (offensive foul) | |||
4:14 | Connor Essegian misses three point jump shot | |||
4:12 | Clifford Omoruyi defensive rebound | |||
4:12 | Steven Crowl personal foul (Clifford Omoruyi draws the foul) | |||
3:47 | Clifford Omoruyi misses two point jump shot | |||
3:45 | Tyler Wahl defensive rebound | |||
3:32 | +2 | AJ Storr makes two point layup | 26-33 | |
3:06 | Mawot Mag misses three point jump shot | |||
3:04 | Chucky Hepburn defensive rebound | |||
2:38 | AJ Storr misses three point jump shot | |||
2:35 | Scarlet Knights defensive rebound | |||
2:35 | TV timeout | |||
2:22 | +2 | Mawot Mag makes two point layup (Derek Simpson assists) | 26-35 | |
2:07 | Clifford Omoruyi blocks AJ Storr's two point layup | |||
2:05 | Steven Crowl offensive rebound | |||
2:04 | +2 | Steven Crowl makes two point layup | 28-35 | |
2:04 | Mawot Mag shooting foul (Steven Crowl draws the foul) | |||
2:04 | Steven Crowl misses regular free throw 1 of 1 | |||
2:04 | Clifford Omoruyi defensive rebound | |||
1:47 | Tyler Wahl personal foul (Clifford Omoruyi draws the foul) | |||
1:46 | Gavin Griffiths misses two point jump shot | |||
1:44 | Tyler Wahl defensive rebound | |||
1:33 | Connor Essegian turnover (bad pass) (Jamichael Davis steals) | |||
1:26 | Jamichael Davis misses two point layup | |||
1:24 | Steven Crowl defensive rebound | |||
1:09 | Clifford Omoruyi blocks AJ Storr's two point layup | |||
1:07 | Jamichael Davis defensive rebound | |||
0:50 | Aundre Hyatt misses two point jump shot | |||
0:48 | Connor Essegian defensive rebound | |||
0:35 | AJ Storr misses three point jump shot | |||
0:33 | Gavin Griffiths defensive rebound | |||
0:18 | Chucky Hepburn personal foul | |||
0:12 | AJ Storr personal foul | |||
0:00 | +2 | Clifford Omoruyi makes two point layup (Jeremiah Williams assists) | 28-37 | |
0:00 | End of period |