Geo Baker, who scored 25 factors, places up a shot as E.J. Liddell defends throughout Rutgers' 66-64 win over No. 16 Ohio State.
AP
PISCATAWAY, N.J. — Rutgers is rarely out of a basketball recreation when enjoying at residence and fifth-year senior Geo Baker is feeling it.
Baker had 25 factors, together with the go-ahead free throws with 18.8 seconds left, and Rutgers scored the ultimate 10 to stun No. 16 Ohio State 66-64 on Wednesday evening.
“I had it going a bit of bit tonight. Tonight was my evening,” stated Baker, who additionally had six assists and no turnovers. “My teammates discovered me and I attempted to make performs. Everybody was simply making successful performs and I used to be the man pulling down photographs.”
Baker scored eight factors within the game-ending spurt and assisted on a dunk by Cliff Omoruyi that tied it 64-all with 1:13 to play.
Omoruyi added 13 factors and Paul Mulcahy had 12 because the Scarlet Knights (14-9, 8-5 Huge Ten) earned consecutive wins over ranked groups for the primary time since January 2008. They thumped Michigan State 84-63 final week and are 12-2 at Jersey Mike’s Area.
Makaki Branham scored 19 factors and E.J. Liddell added 16 for Ohio State (14-6, 7-4). Zed Key had 10 factors and 12 rebounds.
Rutgers’ protection didn't permit the Buckeyes to attain within the ultimate 3:48, and their final two photographs had been blocked. Ron Harper Jr. blocked a layup try by Branham with 3.6 seconds to go, and a shot from the nook by Justin Arhens was partially blocked and by no means received close to the rim.
Ohio State missed its final seven photographs.
“We have to shut video games with a bit of extra power offensively,” Ohio State coach Chris Holtmann stated. “We didn’t play with sufficient power. Their exercise bothered us late. You're going to need to play with power on the highway, and we simply didn’t end performs once we wanted to. Taking part in on the highway is tough. I don’t suppose we’ve mastered that.”
Rutgers’ probabilities appeared dim when Key hit two free throws with 3:48 to play to provide Ohio State a 64-56 lead, its greatest of the sport.
“All of us got here collectively within the huddle and stated we’ve received 4 minutes left,” stated Baker, who was 9 of 14 from the sphere. “It was a four-minute spherical proper right here and we needed to flip it round. We’ve received to play, make performs, get stops, and that’s what we did.”
Baker took over. He made two free throws with 3:07 to go and a layup with 2:33 left after the Buckeyes missed two photographs.
The largest sequence of the sport got here on the following inbounds play. Key broke free after taking a length-of-the-court move however Caleb McConnell caught him from behind and blocked the shot, sending the sellout crowd right into a frenzy.
“I feel he simply thought he had a free run to the rim,” McConnell stated. “I simply wished to win and that’s what I do, give you performs.”
After a shot-clock violation, Omoruyi tied the sport and Baker was fouled on the possession following Branham’s miss, placing Rutgers forward.
Neither crew led by greater than 4 in a bodily first half wherein the officers referred to as only a dozen fouls. The Scarlet Knights took a 32-31 lead on a shot within the lane by Aundre Hyatt simply earlier than the buzzer.
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Ohio State: Not a great loss, however Rutgers’ victims at residence additionally embody Purdue when it was ranked No. 1 this season. When the Scarlet Knights beat the Boilermakers they rallied from 10 down with eight minutes left.
Rutgers: Slowly working its method again into NCAA Match rivalry. The Scarlet Knights simply don’t win on the highway.
“This crew is getting higher,” coach Steve Pikiell stated. “I like that. Yearly our groups get higher. We get higher, and it’s the very best league. Individuals don’t perceive the depth of this league is like no different.”
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