Rutgers Basketball Drops to Ohio State 80-73

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Rutgers Basketball faced another challenging game as they fell to Ohio State with a final score of 80-73 at Jersey Mike’s Arena, maintaining their winless record in Big Ten play. The loss was a tough one for the Scarlet Knights, who showed moments of strong performance but ultimately couldn't hold off the Buckeyes.

Close But No Cigar

Despite leading by as much as 15 points in the first half, Ohio State managed to overcome the early deficit and outscored Rutgers 31-8 to take a 55-47 lead with 13:53 remaining in the second half. The game remained tightly contested after that, but John Mobley Jr. made a crucial 3-pointer with 2:13 left on the clock, giving Ohio State a 76-69 lead.

The Buckeyes continued their momentum with a 6-0 run to extend their lead to 73-67 with 3:23 remaining. They hit five of their last six field goals during this stretch. However, Rutgers responded with a dunk from Bryce Dortch, cutting the lead to four points with 2:43 left on the clock.

Ohio State's offense proved difficult to contain when it was clicking, as they finished the game shooting 52 percent from the field (27-for-52). Four players reached double figures for the Buckeyes, with Bruce Thornton leading the way with 20 points and 10 rebounds. Devin Royal added 16 points, while Brandon Noel contributed 14 points, and Mobley scored 12.

On the other side, Rutgers shot 42 percent from the field (27-for-64), but only two players reached double figures. Tariq Francis led the team with 17 points, and Dylan Grant added 14 points.

A Quality First Half

Rutgers started the game strongly, putting up arguably their best half of the season. They led 41-37 at halftime, fueled by Tariq Francis' 15 points on 5-for-9 shooting. The Scarlet Knights shot 47 percent from the field (16-for-34) in the first half, with Dylan Grant contributing nine points.

The game was closely contested early, with Ohio State cutting the lead to 19-18 after a 3-pointer from Bruce Thornton at the 11:55 mark. However, Rutgers took control as the half progressed, using a 13-2 run to take a 39-24 lead with 3:58 remaining. This 15-point lead marked the largest in program history against Ohio State.

Ohio State responded with its own 13-2 run, capped off by a dunk from Brandon Noel, to end the half down by four points. The Buckeyes finished the first half shooting 52 percent (12-for-23), with Noel recording 14 points.

Up Next

Rutgers will return to action on Monday when they face Oregon at 7 p.m. (ET) on Peacock. Fans can stay updated on the latest news and discussions about the team by visiting The Round Table forum.

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