PISCATAWAY, N.J. (AP) Ron Harper Jr. had 14 points and 11 rebounds, Myles Johnson controlled the paint with 12 points and 14 rebounds and No. 25 Rutgers beat Northwestern 64-50 on Saturday night.
Johnson scored all 12 of his points in the first half on 5-of-6 shooting. Jacob Young added 13 points for Rutgers (12-7, 8-7 Big Ten), and Caleb McConnell had 10 points and seven rebounds.
Anthony Gaines and Chase Audige each scored scored 11 points for Northwestern (6-12, 3-11) . The Wildcats have lost 11 games in a row after a 6-1 start.
Northwestern led by as many as 10 early in the first half at 14-4, but Rutgers would go on a run of their own to go into the break up 37-27.
The Wildcats got back in it with an 11-0 run early in the second half, making it 41-38 with 13:04 remaining. However, within three is the closest they would get the rest of the way.
POLL IMPLICATIONS
After a lopsided loss at No. 15 Iowa, Rutgers needed the victory to have any chance of staying in the Top 25.
BIG PICTURE
Northwestern: First-year guard Ty Berry missed his second consecutive game to return home after his father died Tuesday.
Rutgers: Barring a catastrophic collapse in the final few weeks of the season, the Scarlet Knights have put themselves in good position to end the program's 30-year NCAA Tournament drought.
UP NEXT
Northwestern: Hosts No. 6 Illinois on Tuesday night.
Rutgers: At No. 3 Michigan on Thursday night.