Rutgers (13-14, 6-10) is now effectively 2.5 games ahead of Washington — 1.5 games in the standings, plus the tiebreaker — for 15th place with four games remaining. The lead does not mathematically clinch a spot in the Big Ten Tournament, but for all intents and purposes, it is insurmountable.

It was the kind of play a captain makes, and with Rutgers basketball’s back to the wall at Washington Wednesday, Jeremiah Williams made it. With the Scarlet Knights trailing by one, the senior guard stole an inbounds pass,