COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Devin Royal scored 16 of his career-high 22 points in the second half, Bruce Thornton also had 22 points and Ohio State defeated Rutgers 80-66 on Saturday.
Micah Parrish had 12 for the Buckeyes (6-3, 1-1 Big Ten Conference), who bounced back after a dismal league opener that saw them behind Maryland 50-14 at halftime before losing by 24.
Dylan Harper led the Scarlet Knights (5-4, 0-1) with 18 points. Ace Baily added 12 and Emmanuel Ogbole had 10.
Thornton ensured the Buckeyes would have a better first half, hitting 6 of 7 shots, including both his 3s, for 14 points for a 39-31 halftime lead.
There were seven lead changes before Thornton’s 3 put Ohio State on top 20-18. Ogbole tied it with a dunk for the Scarlet Knights but then the Buckeyes went on an 11-3 run, with Thornton’s jumper making it 31-23.
Ohio State shot 57% (17 of 30) while the Scarlet Knights shot 37% (11 of 30). Both had four 3s.
Bailey hit consecutive jumpers to get Rutgers within four early in the second half but Royal scored the next four Ohio State points and after a Thornton dunk he had 14-straight for the Buckeyes. Parrrish followed that with a layup for a 63-53 lead with nine minutes left.
An 11-3 run that began with 5 1/2 minutes to play got the lead to double figures for good.
Ohio State finished at 55% for the game and dominated inside with 46 points to 18 for Rutgers.
Rutgers returns home for another conference game with Penn State on Tuesday. Ohio State has a week off before playing No. 2 Auburn in Atlanta.
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