Ohio State basketball moves closer to .500 Big Ten record with 72-66 win over Rutgers

OSU

Rutgers' Ron Harper and Ohio State's Andre Wesson fight for a loose ball during the first half of the Buckeyes' victory Wednesday night in Columbus. AP

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Ohio State basketball is still looking for quality Big Ten wins, and it found one with a 72-66 win over Rutgers Wednesday night to move closer to evening their conference record.

Now 12-2 at home, the Buckeyes (16-8, 6-7 Big Ten) got off to a hot start in the first half, shooting 52 percent led by Andre Wesson, who scored 12 of his 13 points in the first half to go along with 10 rebounds. This is his second career double-double.

OSU never trailed in the second half and led by as much as 20 points before Rutgers (17-8, 8-6) began to work its way back into the game. The Scarlet Knights were coming off of a 77-73 win against Northwestern, where they overcame an 18-point deficit. Against the Buckeyes, they trimmed to lead to as low as three with 27.1 seconds to play but were unable to close any more.

The Buckeyes trailed for only 58 seconds all night. They ended the contest with 22 made shots — 10 from three-point range — on 13 assists. OSU did, however, turn the ball over 11 times, leading to 17 Rutgers points.

Kaleb Wesson only took seven shots, but still managed to score in double figures for the 21st time this season with a team-high 16 points while adding five rebounds. Luther Muhammad and Duane Washington Jr. joined the Wesson brothers in double-figures with 10 points each.

The Scarlet Knights turned the ball over 12 times, leading to 18 Ohio State points while recording only eight assists. Jacob Young led Rutgers with 17 points. He was joined in double figures by Geo Baker with 13 points and Paul Mulcahy with 12 points.

Ohio State needs quality wins to solidify its spot in the NCAA Tournament, and getting one against Rutgers -- which entered the night fifth in the conference -- is a step in that direction with a Quadrant Two win. The Buckeyes will have more chances to get Quadrant One wins with games against Illinois, Iowa, Maryland and Michigan State.

What’s Next

Ohio State is in a two-way tie for ninth in the Big Ten with Minnesota, who will play No. 21 Iowa on Sunday. The Buckeyes will have a chance to improve to .500 in conference play when they host Purdue on Saturday in their only matchup with the Boilermakers this season.


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