Rutgers Basketball Falls to Michigan on Buzzer-Beater in Thrilling Big Ten Matchup

Image credits: AP Photo/Jose Juarez

The Rutgers basketball team came close to pulling off a major upset against 15th-ranked Michigan, but ultimately fell short on a buzzer-beating 3-pointer by Nimari Burnett. The Scarlet Knights led by as many as 13 points in the first half and were ahead by 12 with 10 minutes left in the game, but Michigan rallied to tie the score with 4:33 remaining. Rutgers freshman Lathan Somerville scored a season-high 17 points, while Dylan Harper and Ace Bailey added 17 and 13 points, respectively. However, the Scarlet Knights' defense was unable to make one last stop, allowing Burnett to hit the game-winning shot from 28 feet out.

The loss was a tough pill to swallow for Rutgers coach Steve Pikiell, who was proud of his team's effort but frustrated by the outcome. Pikiell noted that his team has struggled with defense all season, and it ultimately cost them the game. Michigan outscored Rutgers 48-32 in the paint and outshot them 32-18 from the free-throw line. The Wolverines also made several key plays down the stretch, including a 14-2 run to tie the score with 4:33 left. Vladislav Goldin led Michigan with 22 points and 11 rebounds, while Burnett finished with 20 points.

Despite the loss, Rutgers remains in good position to secure a spot in the Big Ten Tournament. The Scarlet Knights are currently seventh in the conference standings, but they have several tiebreakers that could help them move up the standings. Rutgers will look to bounce back on Tuesday night when they visit No. 20 Purdue. The Boilermakers are one of the top teams in the conference, but the Scarlet Knights have shown they can compete with anyone in the Big Ten. With a strong performance, Rutgers could pull off a major upset and boost their chances of making a deep run in the tournament.

The Big Ten standings are currently led by Michigan and Michigan State, who are tied for first place. Rutgers is seventh in the standings, but they have a chance to move up with a win over Purdue. The top teams in the conference are:

• Michigan (22-6, 14-3)
• Michigan State (20-8, 14-3)
• Purdue (20-9, 13-5)
• Illinois (19-9, 12-6)
• Indiana (18-10, 11-7)

The bottom half of the standings are:

• Ohio State (15-13, 8-10)
• Rutgers (14-15, 7-11)
• Nebraska (13-15, 7-10)
• Iowa (12-16, 6-11)
• Minnesota (11-17, 6-11)

Rutgers will need to win at least one more game to secure a spot in the tournament, but they have a good chance of making it with their current standing.

The Big Ten conference is one of the toughest in the country, with several top-ranked teams competing for a spot in the tournament. Rutgers has shown they can compete with anyone in the conference, but they will need to improve their defense if they want to make a deep run. The Scarlet Knights have a strong offense, led by players like Harper and Bailey, but they will need to find a way to stop teams like Michigan and Purdue if they want to succeed. With a consistent effort on both ends of the court, Rutgers could be a tough out in the tournament.

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