Rutgers lost a heartbreaker to No. 15 Michigan on Thursday night, falling 84-82 after a buzzer-beating three-pointer.
The Scarlet Knights were on fire in the first half, shooting an impressive 68% from the field. The game featured three ties and six lead changes early on, but Rutgers pulled ahead with an incredible stretch, making 18 of their last 20 shots to take a 57-49 lead at halftime.
The Knights held a 72-60 advantage with just under 12 minutes left, but a 10-0 run by Michigan, combined with a scoring drought for Rutgers, made it a one-possession game. The game stayed tight for the final five minutes, featuring three more ties and five lead changes.
With just 12 seconds remaining and Rutgers trailing by one, graduate student Tyson Acuff was fouled on a three-point attempt. He made two of his three free throws to give Rutgers an 82-81 lead. Acuff finished the night with 16 points, including four three-pointers.
However, Michigan called a timeout with three seconds left, and on the ensuing play, Nimari Burnett hit a three-pointer at the buzzer to seal the win for the Wolverines.
Despite the tough loss, five-star freshman Dylan Harper, the reigning Naismith Trophy National Player of the Week, had another strong performance with 17 points, four rebounds, and three steals, including key baskets in the final moments.
Freshman Lathan Sommerville also had a career night, posting 17 points and finishing a perfect 7-for-7 from the free-throw line. Rutgers shot 13-for-18 from the charity stripe overall.
Five-star forward Ace Bailey came up just short of a double-double, contributing 13 points and nine rebounds.
For Michigan, Vlad Goldin led the way with 22 points and 11 rebounds. The Wolverines have now won eight of their last nine games.
With the loss, Rutgers falls to 14-15 overall and 7-11 in Big Ten play. Michigan improves to 22-6 and 14-3 in conference action.
Next, the Scarlet Knights will continue their road trip with a game against No. 20 Purdue on Tuesday, March 4. The game is set to tip off at 7 p.m. ET on Peacock.
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