Rutgers reeling with loss to Ohio St.

PISCATAWAY — Ohio State entered Saturday’s game at No. 15 Rutgers without its senior leader, point guard C.J. Walker, and 0-3 on the road in the Big Ten. The Scarlet Knights could not take advantage, however, and the Buckeyes left with a win, but another injury.

Duane Washington Jr. scored 17 points and Justice Sueing added 12 points, 10 rebounds and five assists as Ohio State closed the first half with a big run to beat Rutgers 79-68.

“Just losing him as a leader and a ball handler,” Sueing said of Walker’s absence. “As far as me handling the ball, coach [Chris Holtmann] trusts me enough to be a ball handler, to make those decisions as well and other guys need to step up, too, and I thought we did a good job of adjusting.”

The Buckeyes (9-3, 3-3 Big Ten) used a 22-4 burst to take a 42-30 lead at halftime.

Jacob Young scored 19 points and Caleb McConnell 12 for Rutgers (7-4, 3-4), which has lost three straight and four of five.

Ohio State started the second half strong, too, expanding its lead to 52-32 with 15:56 left.

Rutgers trailed by 22 before making a late rally. Paul Mulcahy stole the ball from Jimmy Sotos, leading to a fast-break dunk that capped a 14-2 surge that made it 67-57 with 3:50 to play.

Sotos, Walker’s backup, appeared to injure his shoulder on the play and was taken to the locker room.

The Buckeyes were already missing Walker. It was announced Thursday that he’s out indefinitely with torn ligaments in his thumb.

The Scarlet Knights got no closer than eight points down the stretch.

The Buckeyes shot 51 percent, including 42 percent from 3-point range. Washington was 4-for-8 on 3s.

E.J. Liddell had 15 points and Kyle Young had 13 for Ohio State.