Buckeyes Bounced By Rutgers, 66-57

In a season full of low moments, the Ohio State Buckeyes saved their worst for last. Punchless and disinterested, Thad Matta’s team was handed their most embarrassing loss of the season, falling to Rutgers by a final of 66-57.

From untimely fouls to missed opportunities down the stretch, losing plays were on full display for a Buckeye team that never has shown an ability to stay out of their own way this season.

Ohio State took a three-point lead into halftime, but it was not before they could make one of those token losing plays that overshadowed their first half advantage.

After taking a five-point lead with four seconds left in the first half, Rutgers’ Nigel Johnson was out of control as he tried to get a final shot off before the horn. But Marc Loving’s inexplicable foul with less than a second left bailed Johnson out, sending him to line for a pair of free throws that he would knock down.

A five-point lead was three, and the tone was set for what would be a disastrous second half for the Buckeyes.

Rutgers opened the second half on a 10-1 run, giving them a six-point lead just three

minutes into the period.

Micah Potter’s three ball with 9:13 left in the game gave the Buckeyes a 48-47 advantage, and the two teams would go back and forth before Rutgers began to gain control down the stretch.

Down 55-53 with 2:44 left to play, Ohio State had a golden opportunity to tie the game up.

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C.J. Jackson had a wide open Jae’Sean Tate on a run-out. Any type of on-target pass would tie the game up at 55. Instead, Jackson air-mailed the pass, sending it out of bounds and summing up the entire game in one play.

Johnson’s three-pointer on the next possession gave the Scarlet Knights a five-point lead and essentially ended the Buckeyes’ conference season.

Johnson led all scorers with 21 points, despite starting the game on the bench.

Tate led Ohio State with 18 points.

Loving, the lone senior on the team, managed only five points on 2-7 shooting in what could very well be his last game as a Buckeye.

Rutgers grabbed 16 more rebounds than Ohio State, including a 19-7 offensive rebound advantage.

The Buckeyes were also 15-28 from the free throw line, and turned the ball over 14 times to go along with their poor effort on the glass.

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Now 17-15 overall and 7-11 in the Big Ten, it remains to be seen if they will get an NIT bid. If a lackluster performance like tonight is what fans could expect from postseason play, all eyes will gladly shift to spring football.