NEW YORK, NY - JANUARY 28: Nigel Hayes #10 of the Wisconsin Badgers attempts a shot as Corey Sanders #3 of the Rutgers Scarlet Knights defends during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game at Madison Square Garden on January 28, 2017 in New York City. Wisconsin defeated Rutgers 61-54 in overtime
Rutgers finished last (14th) in the Big Ten at 3-15, yet the Scarlet Knights are one of the most improved teams in the country.
They demonstrated it once again on Wednesday night with a 66-57 win over the Ohio State Buckeyes (17-15, 10th in Big Ten) at the Verizon Center.
Rutgers (15-17) will next face sixth-seeded Northwestern (21-10, 5th in Big Ten) on Thursday night.
The Scarlet Knights’ first Big Ten Tournament victory of the season came under first-year coach Steve Pikiell, and promises good things for Rutgers’ basketball program.
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“We learned how to compete this year,” said Pikiell, whose Scarlet Knights more than doubled their win total from last season, when they finished 7-25. “We have Rutgers going in the right direction.”
The Knights, who beat Illinois in their regular-season finale, earned victories against Big Ten opponents for the first time since joining the conference three years ago.
Rutger’s win on Wednesday did not come without errors, however. Leading scorer Corey Sanders, who was just 2 of 10 from the field, turned the ball over five times and missed three of four free throws. No. 2 scorer Deshawn Freeman fouled out in the second half.
Junior guard led the Scarlet Knights, who outrebounded the Buckeyes 47-31, with 21 points, and Ohio State went 5 of 21 from the field in the second half.
Rutgers took a seven-point lead with less than a minute remaining and didn’t look back from there.
The Buckeyes will now miss the NCAA tournament for the second consecutive season.
“Tonight, we weren’t ready to fight,” Ohio State coach Thad Matta said.
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