Rutgers’ losing streak stretched to seven on Wednesday night, as the Scarlet Knights fell 80-68 to No. 9 Nebraska at Jersey Mike’s Arena. Despite some early signs of life and a lineup shakeup from head coach Steve Pikiell, the Cornhuskers ultimately proved too much, handing Rutgers its 15th loss of the season and dropping the Knights to 2-11 in Big Ten play.
Pikiell made a bold move to start the night, rolling with a smaller, more offense-heavy lineup in an effort to keep pace with Nebraska’s up-tempo attack. The early returns were promising-Rutgers trailed by just one at the first media timeout-but once the rotation shifted back to a more traditional look, the offense sputtered.
Key contributors like freshman guard Harun Zrno and sophomore forward Dylan Grant were non-factors in the first half. Zrno played 19 minutes and Grant logged 10, but neither scored, combining for just five shot attempts before halftime. That lack of production from the supporting cast put even more pressure on the Knights’ already inconsistent offense.
One bright spot early was junior forward Darren Buchanan Jr., who came out aggressive and chipped in 8 points in the first half. His ability to drive and finish through contact gave Rutgers some much-needed energy, but an injury midway through the half limited his availability the rest of the way.
Nebraska, meanwhile, didn’t come out firing from deep the way they often do-they hit just 5-of-16 from three in the first half-but they didn’t need to. A 7-0 run late in the half gave the Cornhuskers their largest lead to that point, a 14-point cushion that felt much heavier given Rutgers’ offensive struggles.
And when the second half tipped off, Nebraska wasted no time reestablishing their identity. They knocked down three of their first five shots from beyond the arc, and just like that, the game felt out of reach.
Every time Rutgers tried to build a little momentum, Nebraska had an answer. A contested jumper here, a timely three there-and just like that, any energy in the building was quickly silenced. Even the home crowd had to contend with a vocal contingent of traveling Cornhusker fans who made their presence known with chants of “Go Big Red” echoing through the arena.
Defensively, Nebraska executed its game plan to near perfection. They forced Rutgers into tough mid-range looks and kept them off the free-throw line-a critical blow to a team that often relies on drawing contact to generate offense. The Knights attempted just 12 free throws all game, and only two in the first half.
The biggest matchup nightmare for Rutgers was Nebraska’s Rienk Mast. The Cornhuskers’ second-leading scorer played like a first option all night, finishing with 26 points and 8 rebounds. At 6-foot-10 with mobility and touch, Mast was a mismatch Rutgers never solved-too quick for the bigs, too strong for the guards.
Zrno and Grant did bounce back in the second half, scoring 9 and 7 respectively, but by then the damage was done. Nebraska had built a lead and controlled the tempo, and Rutgers never seriously threatened down the stretch.
This loss closes a brutal seven-game stretch for the Scarlet Knights, one that featured multiple top-tier opponents and little margin for error. But there’s a silver lining: the schedule lightens up from here.
Of their final six games, only one comes against a projected NCAA Tournament team. The Knights will also get two shots each at Maryland and Penn State-teams currently sitting near the bottom of the Big Ten standings.
Next up: a home matchup with Maryland on Sunday, Feb. 15.
Tip-off is set for noon on FS1 and WRSU 88.7 FM. For Rutgers, it’s not just a chance to snap the skid-it’s a chance to reset the tone for the final stretch of the season.