Given its offensive limitations, Rutgers must play great defense, not good, coach Steve Pikiell said the other day.
It was neither on Sunday night against Ohio State.
The Buckeyes will go streaking into the Top 25 on Monday morning after rolling past the Scarlet Knights, 68-46, in front of 7,476 at the RAC. After doing almost everything it needed to do in a near-miss upset bid at No. 4 Michigan State on Wednesday night, Rutgers did pretty much everything it couldn't do in falling to 11-8 overall and 1-5 in Big Ten play.
The Buckeyes were held to 46.6 percent shooting, slightly below their season average of 49.2. But they dominated Rutgers, one of the nation's best rebounding teams, on the glass by a 46-30 margin. Keita Bates-Diop, the conference's leading scorer, had 20 point to lead all scorers. Kam Williams had 11 points and Kaleb Wesson 10 for the Buckeyes (15-4, 6-0), who have won five straight and 10 of their last 11.
Ohio State lead by 13 at halftime, scored the first 10 points of the second half in and opened up a 30-point lead - 48-18 - with 14:28 left in the game. The Scarlet Knights had a bit of a run and pulled back to within 16 on a Corey Sanders jumper with 9:16 to go, but the Buckeyes bent no further.
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Geo Baker had 14 points and Sanders 13 to pace Rutgers, which shot a poor 28.8 percent from the floor. It was the Scarlet Knights' second-worst shooting effort this season (25.8 in a Dec. 5 loss to Michigan State) and the latest reminder their scoring output hamstrings their ability to defeat quality opponents. Rutgers shot a paltry 19.4 percent in the first half, and the only reason the halftime deficit wasn't larger was Ohio State's somewhat slow start, shooting 37.9 percent itself.
Rutgers took a brief 9-8 lead with 10:46 left in the first half on a layup by Eugene Omoruyi. Ohio State reclaimed control moments later on a 3-pointer Micah Potter, and dominated the rest of the half. The Buckeyes closed the first period on a 20-6 run after Omoruyi's basket and led 28-15 at the break after having led by as many as 15.
Mike Williams out: The senior guard did not play due to an apparent ankle injury. Williams was on crutches with his right leg heavily wrapped after injuring it during practice Saturday, according to The Asbury Park Press. The severity of the injury is unclear.
James Kratch may be reached at jkratch@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JamesKratch. Find NJ.com Rutgers Football on Facebook.