Rutgers fall to Ohio State in Home Finale, Conference Tourney Begins Wednesday
A frustrating regular season ended in a whimper on Sunday afternoon as Rutgers struggled yet again offensively, falling to Ohio State 73-51.
The loss, the fourth in a row for Rutgers, drops RU under .500 at 15-16 overall, 7-13 in the Big Ten. Rutgers will need an huge run through the Conference Tournament that begins Wednesday to have an extended postseason stay. They’ll face Maryland on Wednesday in the opening round.
“This has been a very difficult year with injuries, but the great part of this upcoming tournament is that a whole different season is starting in a few days. If you get yourself in the right frame of mind, good things can happen for us. Everyone is about to be zero and zero when this tournament happens,” Pikiell told the press after the game.
Rutgers shot only 27 percent from the floor, and 3-of-16 from downtown as they struggled against the size and length of Ohio State’s big men inside. It didn’t help matters that Rutgers began each half in a scoring drought. Rutgers fell behind 11-1 in the opening of the game, and didn’t score a field goal until Emmanuel Ogbole drove through the lane for a slam dunk with 12:32 remaining in the first half.
“Every team goes on those kind of droughts,” Pikeill remarked on the poor shooting. “Free throws are puzzling to me because that could have helped us a ton this year. And I think these guys are a good free throw shooting team and I know that. But shots go in some games, and we look like the Lakers. Then when we played Wisconsin here at home, everything went great. And then other games you don’t, but you still have to figure out a way to win games, no matter what. The consistency hasn’t been there.”
SENIOR DAY
Clifford Omoruyi in what might be his final game at Rutgers, fouled out of the game with 7:22 to go in regulation; he finished with 10 points.
Omoruyi was overcome with emotion by the Senior Day festivities; his brother Alfred was also in attendance.
Aundre Hyatt, another senior finished his day with 11 points to pace the Scarlet Knights.
Aiden Terry entered the game with 1:49 to go in his final game on Senior Day and received an assist on a jumper by Gavin Griffiths. Oskar Palmquist finished with no points on a 0-for-3 shooting day.
Rutgers Men's Basketball vs. Maryland 2.25.24
