EVANSTON, Ill. — In an impressive display, freshman standout Ace Bailey netted an impressive 37 points, with 24 of those scored in the first half, as Rutgers secured a notable 79-72 victory over Northwestern on Wednesday evening.

Bailey fell just shy of breaking the freshman scoring record at his school, missing it by only two points. Nonetheless, this game marked his third occasion of surpassing the 30-point mark, as he showcased exceptional shooting, hitting 65% of his attempts from the field (13 of 20), including a career-best five three-pointers out of eight attempts. Additionally, he contributed six rebounds and registered three blocks for the Scarlet Knights.

Tyson Acuff was another key contributor for Rutgers (11-10, 4-5 Big Ten Conference), adding 13 points with an efficient 5-of-7 shooting performance. The Scarlet Knights played without another impressive freshman, point guard Dylan Harper, who averages 18.6 points per game but sat out this match due to an ankle injury.

This victory marked only the second true road win for Rutgers against a Northwestern team that boasted a strong home record of 25-3 over the last two seasons, including an impressive 11-1 this year.

Jalen Leach led the way for the Wildcats (12-9, 3-7), scoring 23 points, while Nick Martinelli provided significant support with 16 points and 10 rebounds. Brooks Barnhizer also contributed with 10 points.

During the first half, Bailey was a dominant force, hitting 9 of 10 shots, including all four of his three-point attempts, helping Rutgers build a 43-35 lead by halftime. Although Northwestern managed to shoot 54%, Bailey’s performance was nearly unstoppable as both Martinelli and Leach scored 10 points apiece.

Northwestern initially surged to a 13-4 lead, but after Bailey scored 10 consecutive points for Rutgers, Jamichael Davis’ three-pointer propelled the Scarlet Knights ahead at 20-18.

The second half presented a different scenario, yet Bailey continued his scoring spree. While Rutgers struggled with 4 of 12 shooting in the first ten minutes, Northwestern faced a severe shooting slump, making only 3 of 18 attempts. Throughout the last ten minutes, the Wildcats could not close the gap to fewer than seven points.

This upcoming Saturday, Michigan will visit Rutgers, while No. 17 Wisconsin is set to take on Northwestern.