Rutgers edges out 16th-ranked Ohio State, 66-64

The Scarlet Knights have repeatedly proven that ranked teams are never safe on the home soil of Piscataway. Although Ohio State (ranked 16th nationally) was favored, Rutgers edged the Buckeyes, 66-64, to collect yet another home win to add to their record.

Rutgers' usual starting five busted the scene with a basket in the first 15 seconds to set a dominant tone. Rutgers emphasized their impeccable defense when the Buckeyes began moving, passing, and opening up the court. The Scarlet Knights put their blocking ability on full display from the start.

With the game tied up at 11, Geo Baker hit a three that sent the crowd into a thrill like no other. As Baker hears his name Geo paired with trio over the loudspeaker, he grows and shoots the next one with ease and a confidence that sets the tone for this game.

Every man is fiercely involved. They were grabbing balls off the rim and using force to steal from out of their opponent's grasp. The Scarlet Knights are moving like a symphony. The trust has been put on display, allowing Baker to feel so loose and able to make the bucket when he steps up.

Aundre Hyatt scared the crowd, hanging onto the ball with a second to spare before a whistle was blown. With the keen ability to be decisive, he pivoted sharply on the floor and made a bucket to put the Scarlet Knights up 32-31 at the half. The crowd erupts and sends Rutgers to the locker room with pride and exhilaration.

The gritty teams resurfaced with a strong and swift pace. After a quick three-pointer by the Buckeyes, Caleb McConnell stole the ball and started a fast break to give Clifford Omoruyi a moment of glory with a dunk to keep the score tight. Game-altering instances are seized upon more than not due to the genuine excitement from each teammate to see the next man contribute and increase the Scarlet Knights' chances of success.

The teams had not let each other outside the realm of five points throughout the game, establishing hustle and determination. Play by play, all the competitors felt as if they were edging one another out, yet an answer never seemed to emerge.

Geo dug his heels in for his fourth three-pointer of the night with twelve minutes left on the clock. Paul Mulcahy followed suit and shot a three-pointer of his own to apply incredible pressure to the scoreboard to shrink the deficit to 50-49. Mulcahy tapped into his "hometown hero" ways and inched the Scarlet Knights to a lead of 52-50, but Ohio State responded with a two-pointer.

Suddenly, with about five minutes on the clock, the Buckeyes separated themselves and reminded Rutgers why they earned an impressive national ranking of 16 in the polls. To the Scarlet Knights' detriment, the court started to look much more spacious, creating room for their opponents to move with freedom and come up with new ways to stake their claim as the top dog.

Three minutes remained, and the Scarlet Knights decided it was time to apply heavy force with the help of arguably one of the loudest fan bases in college basketball. Baker swooped in to save the day once more and hit another three. Twenty seconds later, he partnered with a creative two-pointer. With one minute left, the Scarlet Knight grabbed a couple of crucial points to catch up to Ohio State with a whopping 64 points under their name.

After a timeout, Rutgers rose to the occasion and used the next few moments as an opportunity. Space for mistakes grew, and Ohio State picked up a vital foul. Baker made two free throws. The fans were spoiled with a continuous sounding swoosh whenever this man decided to let the ball go. McConnell came across the court for the chase-down block that carried Rutgers' victory over Ohio State in the final moments.

This win resulted from extremely tough and selfless players with game styles made to compliment one another. Omoruyi's shooting percentage was commendable, but he continues significantly impacting games with his defense. Baker left the court with impressive stats of a game-high of 25 points paired with zero turnovers. Ron Harper Jr. potentially saved the game with his block with 3.2 seconds left. The Scarlet Knights played to their strengths and capitalized on their willpower and grit to get the job done.

The Scarlet Knights have their eyes wide and set on one goal: The Big Dance. After punishing the Spartans and the Buckeyes, the boys feel more excited as they inch nearer to their aim. Head coach Steve Pikiell explained how he approaches setting expectations.

"We play one game at a time and learn from the things in the past... that's what helps us move forward".

This outlook will continue to stimulate many achievements within the program this season.