Just when you thought things were going south, the Ohio State basketball team got up off the mat and showed its resiliency by handing the Rutgers Scarlet Knights their first loss of the 2020-21 campaign 80-68.
It would be an understatement of the century to tell you that Rutgers was on the verge of running the Buckeyes out of the gym in the first half. The Scarlet Knights were playing with purpose, defending, and shooting the lights out. They took a sixteen point lead midway through the first 20 minutes and went into the locker room up 38-28.
It all changed in the second half though. Ohio State outscored Rutgers 52-30 in the second half thanks to some foul and injury trouble by the Scarlet Knights. The Buckeyes began to pound the ball inside, got the benefit of some calls, and Rutgers had no answer once the fouls and parade to the foul-line started.
Add that to guard Jakob Young going out of the game with injury midway through the second half, and the Rutgers team that finished the game wasn’t nearly the same one that started it on fire.
Still though, this was all about Ohio State imposing its will going to the rim. Ohio State got 22 points from the free-throw line and outrebounded Rutgers 45-25. Duane Washington led the Buckeyes with 22 points, and E.J. Liddell wasn’t far behind with 21 of his own, many of it coming in and around the lane. Kyle Young chipped in another 17 points.
You could say we got in a groove 😏#Team122 #GoBuckeyes pic.twitter.com/mYQFFB5tN3
— Ohio State Hoops (@OhioStateHoops) December 23, 2020
It was Rutgers’ first loss of the season, and one that the Buckeyes should be able to use as a building block for the rest of the season.
As a side note, Ohio State forward Seth Towns recorded his first points in a Buckeye uniform and finished with four points. As he gets more healthy and his conditioning improves, he could end up being an x-factor the rest of the way.
With the win, the Buckeyes improve to 7-1. They are next in action Saturday at Northwestern.
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