ANN ARBOR, MI -- Rutgers was defeated 84-82 by No. 15 Michigan on a heartbreaking three-point buzzer-beater Thursday night.
Rutgers was sensational in the first half, shooting 68 percent from the field. There were three ties and six lead changes before RU went on a stretch making 18-of -20 shots and entering halftime with a 57-49 advantage.
Rutgers led 72-60 with under 12 minutes remaining, but a 10-0 Wolverine run paired with a Scarlet Knights scoring drought made it a one-possession game. It remained a one-possession game for the final five minutes including three ties and five lead changes.
With 12 seconds left and Rutgers down one, grad student Tyson Acuff was fouled on a three-pointer and went two-for-three at the line to give Rutgers an 82-81 lead. Acuff finished with 16 points including four three-pointers.
Michigan called timeout with three seconds remaining before Nimari Burnett buried the last second triple to down Rutgers.
Despite the loss, five-star Dylan Harper, the reigning Naismith Trophy National Player of the Week, had another strong outing with 17 points, four rebounds, and three steals including key buckets down the stretch.
Freshman Lathan Sommerville posted a career-high 17 points and a perfect 7-for-7 from the free-throw line. Overall, RU shot 13-for-18 from the charity stripe.
Five-star Ace Bailey was one rebound shy of notching his eighth double-double - he had 13 points.
Vlad Goldin was excellent for the Wolverines posting 22 points and 11 rebounds. Michigan has now won eight of its past nine games.
Rutgers falls to 14-15 (7-11 in conference play) while Michigan improves to 22-6 (14-3).
The Scarlet Knights continue their road trip with No. 20 Purdue on Tuesday, March 4 - tipping at 7 pm on Peacock.
Postgame Notes
Lathan Sommerville
- Career-high 17 points
- Shot 7-of-7 on free throws and has made 17 consecutive free throws across the past 4 games
Tyson Acuff
- Tied his season-high in three-pointers (four)
Jeremiah Williams
- Had a career-high with five steals
Team Notes
- It marked the first time since December of 2022 that RU scored 80+ in three straight games (Wake Forest, Bucknell, Coppin State)
- It marked the first time that RU scored 80+ points in three straight Big Ten Conference games since joining the league in 2014-15
- Rutgers never scored 80+ points in three consecutive conference games in the BIG EAST
- The last time Rutgers' scored 80+ points in three consecutive conference games came in 1990-91 in the Atlantic 10 (February 1991 vs. Penn State, UMass and Duquesne)
- Over the past three games (Washington, USC, Michigan), Rutgers offensively has averaged 88.6 points per game
- Rutgers scored 57 points and shot 67.7 percent from the field in the first half (21-of-31)
- That marked the most points and best field goal percentage in a half this season
- Best field goal percentage in a half since Feb. 1, 2023, when RU shot 65% to score 56 points in the second half against Minnesota)
- Most points in a half since scoring 60 vs. Stillman college in 2013
- It marked the fourth time this season RU shot 60% or better from the field in a half (Monmouth, Northwestern, USC, Michigan).
- Rutgers' 11 steals tied for their fourth most ever in a Big Ten game
