Devin Royal

Ohio State opened the new year with a statement road victory, erasing a 15-point deficit to defeat Rutgers — as this team continues to grow. The Buckeyes, now 10–3 overall and 2–1 in conference action, once again proved they can absorb adversity and respond with poise, closing the night with a hard-earned win inside Jersey Mike’s Arena.

The first half began with encouraging offensive energy, as Christoph Tilly and Devin Royal both scored on their opening possessions, but Ohio State struggled to control the defensive glass. Rutgers took advantage, piling up second-chance opportunities that fueled an early 19–15 lead. After Bruce Thornton briefly steadied things with a three-pointer, the Buckeyes endured a prolonged offensive drought, which has been the achilles heel for this team in the past and once again this season as well. Rutgers surged ahead as Tariq Francis, who came off the bench, completely tilted the half by scoring 15 points in a flurry that pushed the Scarlet Knights in front 39–24 with under four minutes to play.

Rather than unravel, Ohio State showed the same resilience it has demonstrated throughout the season. The Buckeyes closed the half on a 13–2 run, sparked by a flawless first-half performance from Noel, who scored all 14 of his points before the break without missing a shot. A deep three from John Mobley Jr. punctuated the surge and sent Ohio State into halftime trailing only 41–37, firmly back in control of the game’s momentum.

The second half quickly swung in the Buckeyes’ favor. After Rutgers briefly halted the run, Ohio State rattled off another 7–0 stretch capped by a Mobley three to reclaim the lead. From there, the offense found a steady rhythm, with Thornton attacking the rim, Royal converting through contact, and Mobley spacing the floor with confidence. Fourteen consecutive Buckeye possessions ended in points as Ohio State built a 55–47 advantage before Rutgers mounted its own response.

The game tightened over the final ten minutes as both teams exchanged leads. Thornton and Royal continued to finish through traffic while Rutgers relied on timely baskets from Dylan Grant and Kaden Powers. When Thornton briefly exited after taking a knock, Royal carried the load, keeping Ohio State narrowly in front as Rutgers endured a prolonged cold stretch from the field.

The defining moment came with just over two minutes remaining. With the shot clock winding down, Mobley caught Thornton’s pass, froze his defender with a pump fake, and calmly buried a left-wing three that pushed the Buckeye lead to seven. Rutgers never closed the gap from there, sealing another impressive comeback win for Ohio State.

Thornton finished with 20 points and 10 rebounds to lead the Buckeyes, while Royal added 16 and Mobley chipped in 12 on four triples. Noel’s 14-point first half proved critical in keeping Ohio State within striking distance. For Rutgers, Francis scored 17 and Grant added 14, with second-chance points providing much of their offense.

With the victory, Ohio State improved to 15–5 all-time against Rutgers and continued its strong start to conference play. The Buckeyes now return to Columbus with momentum, preparing for a marquee home matchup against No. 13 Nebraska — another opportunity to show that this team’s growth is no accident.