Ohio State Defeats Rutgers in Close Contest
Friday, January 2, 2026, 8:00 PM ET · Jersey Mike’s Arena
Ohio State Buckeyes 80, Rutgers Scarlet Knights 73, final. Our NCAAB picks are sealed as a hash before kickoff and settled in public, losses included.
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Quick answers
Who won Ohio State Buckeyes vs Rutgers Scarlet Knights?
Ohio State Buckeyes beat Rutgers Scarlet Knights 80-73 at Jersey Mike’s Arena on January 2, 2026.
Who was favored in Ohio State Buckeyes vs Rutgers Scarlet Knights?
Ohio State Buckeyes were the favorite at DraftKings, moneyline -440 (about 81% implied). The favorite won.
In a tightly contested matchup, the Ohio State Buckeyes emerged victorious against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights with a final score of 80-73. This game took place at Jersey Mike’s Arena on January 3, 2026, and showcased the Buckeyes' ability to secure a win on the road against a struggling Rutgers team.
Ohio State entered this game with a solid record of 10-3, while Rutgers was looking to improve their 7-7 record. The Buckeyes had been in good form, boasting a record of 7-3 over their last ten games, with an average of 82.3 points scored per game and 69.3 points allowed. In contrast, Rutgers had a record of 4-6 in their last ten outings, averaging 65.6 points scored and 73.8 points allowed. The Scarlet Knights had recently won two straight games, defeating Delaware State and Pennsylvania, but their overall performance had been inconsistent.
At home, Rutgers had a record of 4-2, but they struggled significantly on the road with an away record of 0-4. Ohio State, on the other hand, had a strong home record of 6-2 and a 1-1 record in away games, indicating their capability to perform well in hostile environments.
The two teams had met previously in the 2025 season, where Ohio State defeated Rutgers 80-66 in their last encounter, further establishing a challenging matchup for the Scarlet Knights. The Buckeyes' victory in that game set the tone for this rematch, as they looked to continue their dominance.
In terms of injuries, there were no specific mentions in the provided facts, suggesting that both teams were likely at full strength for this critical contest.
The betting market, as provided by DraftKings, had Ohio State favored by 9.5 points, with a total set at 151.5. The odds indicated a strong belief in Ohio State's ability to cover the spread, reflecting their recent form and overall performance metrics.
As the game unfolded, Ohio State demonstrated their scoring prowess, particularly in the second half. Key moments included Christoph Tilly making a layup with an assist from John Mobley Jr., which pushed the Buckeyes' lead to 73-67. Bryce Dortch followed up with a four-foot dunk, extending the lead to 75-69. John Mobley Jr. then hit a crucial 24-foot three-point jumper, further solidifying Ohio State's advantage at 76-69.
Amare Bynum contributed to the scoring by converting two free throws, bringing the score to 78-69. Despite Rutgers' efforts to close the gap, including Jamichael Davis making a turnaround jump shot, Ohio State maintained their lead. Tilly capped off a strong performance with a dunk, and Davis added an 18-foot jumper, but it was not enough to overcome the deficit.
The final score of 80-73 reflected Ohio State's effective execution in the second half, allowing them to secure the win on the road. This victory not only added to their momentum but also highlighted the challenges Rutgers faces as they continue to seek consistency in their performance.
Odds
| Book | Spread | Total | Moneyline |
|---|---|---|---|
| DraftKings | OSU -9.5 | 151.5 o -112 / u -108 | Ohio State Buckeyes -440 · Rutgers Scarlet Knights +340 |
Leaders
- PointsTariq Francis17Rutgers Scarlet Knights
- AssistsTariq Francis3Rutgers Scarlet Knights
- ReboundsEmmanuel Ogbole9Rutgers Scarlet Knights
- PointsBruce Thornton20Ohio State Buckeyes
- AssistsJohn Mobley Jr.5Ohio State Buckeyes
- ReboundsBruce Thornton10Ohio State Buckeyes
Recent form
Rutgers Scarlet Knights
Last 10: 4-6Streak W265.6 scored · 73.8 allowed per game4-2 at home
- W65-50vs Delaware State HornetsDec 30
- W70-69vs Pennsylvania QuakersDec 21
- L59-81at Seton Hall PiratesDec 14
- L60-101at Michigan WolverinesDec 6
- L65-81vs Purdue BoilermakersDec 3
- W80-65vs UNLV RebelsNov 27
- L63-68at Notre Dame Fighting IrishNov 25
- L60-85at Tennessee VolunteersNov 24
- L54-67vs Central Connecticut Blue DevilsNov 21
- W80-71vs American University EaglesNov 18
Ohio State Buckeyes
Last 10: 7-3Streak W182.3 scored · 69.3 allowed per game1-1 away
- W89-63vs Grambling TigersDec 23
- L70-71vs North Carolina Tar HeelsDec 20
- W89-88vs West Virginia MountaineersDec 14
- L80-88vs Illinois Fighting IlliniDec 10
- W86-82at Northwestern WildcatsDec 6
- L66-67at Pittsburgh PanthersNov 29
- W113-60vs Mount St. Mary's MountaineersNov 25
- W91-58vs Western Michigan BroncosNov 21
- W64-63vs Notre Dame Fighting IrishNov 16
- W75-53vs App State MountaineersNov 11
Standings
| Team | Overall | Games behind | In conference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Michigan | 37-3 | - | 19-1 |
| Nebraska | 28-7 | 4 | 15-5 |
| Michigan State | 27-8 | 4 | 15-5 |
| Illinois | 28-9 | 4 | 15-5 |
| Wisconsin | 24-11 | 5 | 14-6 |
| Purdue | 30-9 | 6 | 13-7 |
| UCLA | 24-12 | 6 | 13-7 |
| Ohio State | 21-13 | 7 | 12-8 |
| Iowa | 24-13 | 9 | 10-10 |
| Indiana | 18-14 | 10 | 9-11 |
| Minnesota | 15-18 | 11 | 8-12 |
| USC | 18-14 | 12 | 7-13 |
| Washington | 16-17 | 12 | 7-13 |
| Rutgers | 14-20 | 13 | 6-14 |
| Northwestern | 15-19 | 14 | 5-15 |
| Oregon | 12-20 | 14 | 5-15 |
| Maryland | 12-21 | 15 | 4-16 |
| Penn State | 12-20 | 16 | 3-17 |
Box score
| Stat | Ohio State Buckeyes | Rutgers Scarlet Knights |
|---|---|---|
| Field goals | 27-52 | 27-64 |
| Field goal % | 52 | 42 |
| Three-pointers | 7-16 | 6-22 |
| Three-point % | 44 | 27 |
| Free throws | 19-23 | 13-17 |
| Free throw % | 83 | 76 |
| Rebounds | 33 | 31 |
| Offensive rebounds | 13 | 18 |
| Defensive rebounds | 20 | 13 |
| Assists | 15 | 14 |
| Steals | 5 | 9 |
| Blocks | 2 | 3 |
| Turnovers | 12 | 8 |
| Team turnovers | 2 | 0 |
| Technical fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Technical fouls, total | 0 | 0 |
| Flagrant fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Points off turnovers | 10 | 9 |
| Fast-break points | 6 | 6 |
| Points in the paint | 40 | 30 |
| Fouls | 15 | 19 |
| Largest lead | 9 | 15 |
| Lead changes | 12 | 12 |
| Time in front | 46 | 46 |
How the scoring went
- 2nd Half44-43John Mobley Jr. makes 25-foot three point jumper (Bruce Thornton assists)
- 2nd Half44-46Dylan Grant makes 23-foot three point jumper (Jamichael Davis assists)
- 2nd Half47-46John Mobley Jr. makes 28-foot three point jumper
- 2nd Half48-46Christoph Tilly makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half48-47Emmanuel Ogbole makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half50-47Devin Royal makes driving layup
- 2nd Half51-47Devin Royal makes free throw 1 of 1
- 2nd Half53-47Bruce Thornton makes driving layup
- 2nd Half55-47Bruce Thornton makes driving layup
- 2nd Half55-49Lino Mark makes driving layup (Kaden Powers assists)
- 2nd Half55-50Lino Mark makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half56-50Christoph Tilly makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half56-53Kaden Powers makes 25-foot three point jumper (Lino Mark assists)
- 2nd Half58-53Bruce Thornton makes 11-foot pullup jump shot (Gabe Cupps assists)
- 2nd Half58-54Dylan Grant makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half58-55Dylan Grant makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half58-57Darren Buchanan Jr. makes 19-foot pullup jump shot
- 2nd Half59-57Devin Royal makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half60-57Devin Royal makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half60-58Kaden Powers makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half60-59Kaden Powers makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half60-61Kaden Powers makes 2-foot dunk (Lino Mark assists)
- 2nd Half62-61Bruce Thornton makes layup
- 2nd Half62-63Kaden Powers makes driving layup
- 2nd Half64-63Devin Royal makes layup
- 2nd Half64-64Bryce Dortch makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half64-65Bryce Dortch makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half67-65Bruce Thornton makes 25-foot three point jumper (Colin White assists)
- 2nd Half67-67Darren Buchanan Jr. makes layup (Tariq Francis assists)
- 2nd Half69-67Devin Royal makes layup (Gabe Cupps assists)
- 2nd Half70-67Devin Royal makes free throw 1 of 1
- 2nd Half71-67Devin Royal makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half73-67Christoph Tilly makes layup (John Mobley Jr. assists)
- 2nd Half73-69Bryce Dortch makes 4-foot dunk
- 2nd Half76-69John Mobley Jr. makes 24-foot three point jumper
- 2nd Half77-69Amare Bynum makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half78-69Amare Bynum makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half78-71Jamichael Davis makes 15-foot turnaround jump shot (Kaden Powers assists)
- 2nd Half80-71Christoph Tilly makes 4-foot dunk (Devin Royal assists)
- 2nd Half80-73Jamichael Davis makes 18-foot jumper
Win probability
Above the line favours Rutgers Scarlet Knights, below favours Ohio State Buckeyes.
Venue
- Jersey Mike’s ArenaPiscataway, NJ
- Attendance8000
- OfficialsLarry Scirotto, Brian Dorsey, Michael Redd
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- Ohio State Dominates Rutgers in Convincing WinNov 22, 2025