Takeaways | Rutgers basketball beats USC, takes another step toward Big Ten Tournament berth

Posted by author February 24, 2025 Basketball

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PISCATAWAY – Rutgers basketball took another big step Sunday toward qualifying for the Big Ten Tournament.

The fact the Scarlet Knights are even in this position reflects just how much of a disappointment this season has been, but Steve Pikiell’s team is in a good spot to at least put together a miracle run in the conference tournament next month in Indianapolis.

Rutgers on Sunday beat USC 95-85 at Jersey Mike’s Arena behind 25 points from star freshman guard Dylan Harper for its second consecutive victory and its second-to-last home game of the season.

“Just one game at a time,” Pikiell said. “You know how we go.”

Harper also had two rebounds, nine assists and a career-high six steals in another solid performance.

Rutgers’ scoring output was its most ever in regulation against a Big Ten team.

The Scarlet Knights are bunched up at the bottom of the conference standings. While Sunday’s victory didn’t clinch anything, it at least put Rutgers in a commanding spot of qualifying.

Rutgers led for nearly the entire game, but took full control in the final minutes of the second half.

The Scarlet Knights reeled off a 14-4 run to take a 17-point lead with just less than five minutes to go.

They needed it as USC sliced Rutgers’ lead back to single digits, but the Scarlet Knights hit key free throws (including six from Jamichael Davis, who had 13 points) in the final minute to seal the win.

Rutgers shot 55.6 percent from the field and went 9-of-20 (45.0 percent) from long distance. It also went 26-of-28 from the free-throw line.

“We’re a good foul-shooting group. We spend a lot of time on it,” Pikiell said. “Tonight to be able to do that was great.”

Defense was practically nonexistent from both teams much of the game, but the Scarlet Knights scored plenty to earn the win.

Rutgers had a strong offensive first half, shooting 62.5 percent from the field and going 5-of-10 from beyond the arc. Harper had 16 of his points before the break as the Scarlet Knights carried a 44-39 lead into halftime – it would’ve been larger but Wesley Yates III drained a deep three to just beat the buzzer.

“We’ve got to continue to get better defensively,” Pikiell said. “That’s a big number we gave up to them.”

FIVE TAKEAWAYS

1. Emmanuel Ogbole (surprisingly) makes his return

It was a stunning turn of events before the game when Rutgers’ availability report came out and center Emmanuel Ogbole was listed as questionable.

The center had been ruled out for the season in January after suffering a knee injury in a Jan. 20 loss at Penn State – Rutgers went 3-5 in the eight games Ogbole missed.

But about six minutes into Sunday’s game, Ogbole came off the bench and checked into the game to a nice applause from the crowd.

Ogbole ultimately played just two minutes and went scoreless.

“He had the surgery and he did a great job with rehab,” Pikiell said. “Just thankful and hopefully he feels good tomorrow because that’ll be the key for us. He hasn’t really practiced much. They have him clearance the other day. He said he wanted to try it.”

It’s unclear how much Ogbole will be able to do for the remainder of the season and postseason if Rutgers gets there.

But the Scarlet Knights need as much help as they can get at center.

“We’ll see where it leads,” Pikiell said.

2. Bryce Dortch’s contributions off the bench

Give credit to the freshman, who finished with nine points on 4-of-4 shooting in 14 minutes off the bench. Dortch also blocked two shots.

“Bryce was awesome today,” Pikiell said. “Gave us a ton of great energy.”

It was Dortch’s best game of the season by far – in the eight previous games he played this season, Dortch had gone scoreless in seven of the them (he scored two points in the loss at Oregon).

But Sunday represented a strong sign of development for Dortch, who did a nice job finishing around the rim, something he had struggled with in previous opportunities.

Dortch brought the crowd to its feet with about seven minutes to go when he dunked a Davis miss to put Rutgers up by 12.

“Great minutes,” Harper said. “If you had seen him in practice yesterday you wouldn’t have be surprised. I guess the whole building was surprised but we see it every day.”

At a time when the Scarlet Knights need contributions from everybody, Dortch’s were important. They also were a positive indication for Rutgers’ future beyond this season.

“I tell him every day, just have a presence on the court,” Harper said. “Whether it’s rebounding, defense, scoring. Just make sure your presence is felt. He did that.”

That advice has stood out for Dortch, whose growing confidence and aggressiveness was on display against USC.

“Just not sitting back,” Dortch said. “I think at first I wasn’t as confident in myself so I sat back, tried to get plays like putbacks and little cuts. But making my presence felt, calling for the ball, moving, going and attacking, playing to my strengths.”

3. Ace Bailey’s performance

While Harper shined, Bailey also had a solid game.

The freshman wing finished with 14 points on 5-of-12 shooting with three rebounds and three assists.

Bailey has had a tendency to force shots at times this season, but he didn’t do that on Sunday.

4. USC’s Josh Cohen plays back home in Jersey

Cohen, a 6-foot-10 graduate transfer forward, played back in his home state on Sunday – he’s a Lincroft native and Christian Brothers Academy graduate.

He transferred to USC after spending one season at UMass (he led the team in scoring with 15.9 points per game) and three at Saint Francis, where he was named the NEC Co-Player of the Year for 2022-23.

Against Rutgers on Sunday Cohen finished with six points and eight rebounds in 21 minutes.

5. Rutgers’ Big Ten Tournament hopes

So to recap, the Scarlet Knights haven’t clinched a Big Ten Tournament berth just yet. Another victory would likely cement it – though the road ahead isn’t easy with games on the road against Michigan and Purdue.

“We’ve got a tough stretch,” Pikiell said. “We’ll never get too far ahead of ourselves.”

Still, the Scarlet Knights are in a good spot.

Below is the bottom half of the conference standings. Three teams from this group will not qualify for the conference tournament.

Indiana 7-9: Has tiebreaker over Rutgers

Nebraska 7-9: Rutgers owns tiebreaker

Ohio State 7-10: Has tiebreaker over Rutgers

Rutgers 7-10: Hosts Minnesota March 9.

USC 6-10: Rutgers owns tiebreaker

Iowa 6-10: Has tiebreaker over Rutgers.

Minnesota 6-10: Visits Rutgers March 9.

Northwestern 5-11: Rutgers owns tiebreaker.

Penn State 5-12: Owns tiebreaker over Rutgers.