Rutgers Basketball Falls to Ohio State in Tough Big Ten Matchup

Rutgers Basketball Falls to Ohio State in Tough Big Ten Matchup

Rutgers Basketball faced a tough loss against Ohio State, falling 80-73 at Jersey Mike’s Arena and remaining winless in Big Ten play. Despite initially leading by 15 points in the first half, Ohio State managed to overcome the deficit and take a 55-47 lead in the second half. The game remained close, but a late 3-pointer by John Mobley Jr. secured the win for Ohio State with a 76-69 lead. The Buckeyes showcased a strong offensive performance, shooting 52 percent from the field, while Rutgers struggled to contain their offense.

Ohio State had four players scoring in double figures, with Bruce Thornton leading the way with 20 points and 10 rebounds. Devin Royal contributed 16 points, Brandon Noel added 14 points, and Mobley scored 12 points. On the other hand, Rutgers had a limited offensive output, with only two players reaching double figures. Tariq Francis led the Scarlet Knights with 17 points, followed by Dylan Grant with 14 points.

Rutgers started the game strong, leading 41-37 at halftime, with Tariq Francis scoring 15 points on 5-for-9 shooting. The Scarlet Knights shot 47 percent from the field in the first half, with Dylan Grant adding nine points. Despite Ohio State narrowing the gap to a 19-18 game early on, Rutgers extended their lead with a 13-2 run, reaching a 15-point advantage, the largest in program history against Ohio State.

Ohio State responded with a 13-2 run of their own to end the half trailing by four points. The Buckeyes shot 52 percent in the first half, with Brandon Noel leading their scoring with 14 points. Rutgers will face Oregon next on Monday at 7 p.m. (ET) on Peacock.