College Basketball

Bates-Diop's double-double leads Ohio State Past Rutgers

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 9:37 p.m. ET

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PISCATAWAY, N.J. (AP) Keita Bates-Diop tied a career-high with 24 points and had a career-high 14 rebounds as Ohio State defeated Rutgers, 79-69 on Saturday.

Jae'Sean Tate added 22 points on 9-for-11 shooting and 13 rebounds for the Buckeyes (16-10, 8-5 Big Ten), marking the sixth time this season they have had two players with double-doubles. Kam Williams added 19 for OSU, which kept its flickering NCAA hopes alive with a second straight victory.

Corey Sanders had 23 points for the Scarlet Knights (6-19, 0-12), who have lost 26 straight regular-season Big Ten games and 27 including the conference tournament. Mike Williams added 13 and D.J. Foreman had 10.

Ohio State opened two 16-point leads, the second at 52-36. Rutgers scored nine straight to get within seven, but could get no closer the remainder of the game.

The first half featured runs by each team, with Bates-Diop's 14 points helping OSU to a 35-26 lead.