Rutgers Scarlet Knights Chop Down Ohio State in OT

January 17, 2023

On January 15, Rutgers Scarlet Knights defeated the Ohio State Buckeyes in OT, 68-64. This game appeared to revolve around patience for both Rutgers and Ohio State. Early on, Rutgers got off to a slow start, falling to an 11-point deficit minutes into the first half, 15-4. However, they managed to chip away at the lead and went into halftime down by three, 23-20.

In the first half, both Ohio State and Rutgers struggled to hit shots from the field. Oddly, fifth-year senior Caleb McConnell was Rutgers’ leading scorer going into halftime. He recorded six out of Rutgers’ 20 points by finding ways to become effective on the offensive side of the ball. With that being said, Rutgers HC Steve Pikiell preached patience to his guys which helped them remain poised and confident.

“A really difficult basketball game, but these guys all stepped up,” Coach Pikiell expressed in the post-game press conference. “It was one of those games [where] the ball wasn’t going early, however we just stayed the course and hung with it. Our defense always gives us a chance to win these games.”

Although Rutgers's offense struggled in the first half, their relentless defense suffocated Ohio throughout the rest of the game. The Knights managed to hold the Buckeyes to 34% for the entirety of the game, although they were shooting 48% for the season. Ultimately, this gave the Knights several chances to get into a rhythm while keeping the Buckeyes out of rhythm.

Rutgers’s Steady Second Half and Overtime

The momentum garnered from the defensive prowess of junior Clifford Omoruyi protecting the rim in the first half with three blocks, followed into the second half as well. Omoruyi finished the game with a double-double, however his paint presence helped create matchup problems for the Buckeyes. Omoruyi shooting nearly perfectly from the free-throw line (6-8) also made it difficult for the Buckeyes to guard him. In an extremely close game, Omoruyi proved himself to be a threat for crucial points.

Although Omoruyi had an outstanding game, the leading scorer and key player who stood out was transfer senior PG Cam Spencer who ended the game with 21 points and scored 16 in the second half. Despite his slow start in the first half, his aggression in the second allowed him to shoot 5-13 from the field and 9-11from the free throw line.

“I had a lot of good looks in the first half, but you just got to keep shooting and trust your shot,” Spencer emphasized.

Knights Pull Through

Rutgers is always able to stay in the game, but once they turn on the defensive heat, they’ll prevail against a high-scoring team like Ohio State. The Knights identity relies upon their relentless defense and quiet patience which proved successful in Sunday’s game.