Sports

Rutgers no match for Cincinnati

PISCATAWAY, N.J. — Rutgers hopes it learns some valuable lessons from last night. Because with every rebound, every nudge or elbow or bruising play, Cincinnati taught the Scarlet Knights about toughness, physicality and what it takes to win in the Big East, handing them a 68-58 loss Saturday night at the RAC.

“They played harder. They played tougher … and that’s why they got the victory,’’ coach Mike Rice said. “We have to learn from this.

“We’re going to be in this spot again, taking the next step forward. We’ve got to learn in the Big East if things aren’t going well you don’t rely on the jump shot. You have to score in the paint, draw contact, get to the free-throw line.

“It’s not like we stopped playing hard. … Playing soft in the first half and not finishing in the second half was a deadly equation.”

After wins against No. 24 Pittsburgh and at St. John’s, Rutgers (11-4, 2-2) was aiming for its first 3-1 league start in 18 years, but the Scarlet Knights let Cincinnati — who had a 41-34 rebounding advantage, which translated into a 19-8 edge in second-chance points — squelch that hope.

Myles Mack had a team-high 15 points, but Rutgers trailed by 12 points in a first half that saw it shoot 4-of-19, and later, by 18 in the second half. To make matters worse, leading scorer Eli Carter, who entered the game averaging 16.9 points per game, fouled out with just six points on 1-of-11 shooting.

“They killed us on the boards,” said Carter, who had a second straight poor game. “Obviously I have to play better. It’s a huge learning experience. It’s pretty frustrating. I’ve got to get back in the gym, do what I normally do. I’ll be back next game ready to play.’’

The Scarlet Knights trailed 27-15 at the half and the Bearcats (14-3, 2-2), who were motivated after losses to St. John’s and Notre Dame, ran off the first six of the second half to go up by 18. Rutgers got within eight on Carter’s layup in the final minute, but no closer.

“We’ve just got to play both halves with a lot of intensity,” Mack said. “The first half we came out with no intensity and they went up on us, and it was hard for us to fight back. We’ve got to be tougher, that’s what it’s all about.’’

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Cincinnati’s Cashmere Wright had a game-high 23 points, and JaQuon Parker adding 11. Rice is 2-2 since his return from a suspension for inappropriate behavior.