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Head coach Mick Cronin and the University of Cincinnati men’s basketball team traveled to Piscataway, N.J., Saturday with the hope of finding answers to their recent woes.

After an uninspiring 61-54 defeat at the hands of the Rutgers University Scarlet Knights, however, the Bearcats headed back to Clifton with far more questions than answers.

Despite another impressive performance by senior forward Yancy Gates — 16 points on 7-of-11 shooting ­— and 17 points from senior guard Dion Dixon, UC could not overcome the 15-point second half effort of Rutgers’ freshman Eli Carter.

Carter (17 points) shot lights-out for the last 20 minutes of Saturday’s game, connecting on 83 percent of his shots, including all four of his 3-point attempts.

Although neither team managed to win the battle on the glass, Rutgers dominated UC in points in the paint 30-12.

Sixteen of those points came on fast breaks that came as a result of an uncharacteristically high number of turnovers by UC (14).

After the game, Cronin said he was displeased with the performance of his squad.

“You can’t shoot the ball when you turn it over,” Cronin said. “We gave them points off layups, because you keep turning the ball over — throwing toward their basket — turnovers for touchdowns.”

Cincinnati came within three points of equalizing the game late in the second half, but the Cats missed their final five shots; and a Dane Miller slam dunk with just more than one minute left, sealed the Bearcats’ fate.

Less than a week and a half ago, the Bearcats (15-7, Big East 5-4) were within striking distance of a share of the lead in the race for the Big East conference.

After losing three-straight games for the first time since the end of the 2009-2010 season, however, the Cats find themselves at a crossroad.

“I think that anybody who loses three in a row in late January better decide what they are going to do,” Cronin said. “They are either going to toughen up, or they are going to pack it in.”
Cronin vowed to resolve the problems that have spurred the last three losses.

“I am going to find five guys that will listen, and I will play them 40 minutes in the next game,” Cronin said. “I will tell you one thing — I will rectify it. Next time we take the floor, guys are going to play with some heart, hustle and toughness.”

The Bearcats will look to get back on track this Saturday when they take on DePaul at Fifth Third Arena.

Tip off is set for 7 p.m.