Ohio State loses at home as 20.5-point favorite
Ohio State was off to a great start in the 2016-17 season, sitting at 7-1 with their only loss a narrow two-point defeat on the road at Virginia.
Well, so much for that.
The Buckeyes inexplicably lost 79-77 in overtime at home on Tuesday to Florida Atlantic, despite entering the contest as 20.5-point favorites. According to Ken Pomeroy's rankings, Ohio State is the 24th-best team in the country, while the Owls are a lowly 239th.
Just how rare was is that Florida Atlantic, who entered the game sitting at 2-5 on the season, knocked off the Big Ten standout program?
FAU entered tonight 0-6 vs Big Ten tms in last 20 seasons w/all losses by at least 10 pts (5 by at least 25)
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) December 7, 2016
Tonight FAU beat Ohio St 79-77
Adonis Filer, who had only topped the 15-point plateau once this season, led the way for Florida Atlantic with 23 points, but the hero was Nick Rutherford. The 6-foot-3 sophomore hit the winning shot on an impressive drive with just over one second to play in the extra frame, his 10th and 11th points of the night.
Florida Atlantic upset Ohio State in overtime tonight.
— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) December 7, 2016
Here's the game-winning bucket with one second left. https://t.co/AcqmXeGVIK
In the grand scheme of things, the loss likely won't mean much, as Ohio State is a strong team that should make the NCAA tournament with a good showing in Big Ten play.
For one night though, the capital city of Ohio was taken by Florida in spectacular fashion.
Let's leave Jon Rothstein of FanRag Sports to sum up the feelings of losing to a team which Ohio State had to pay to make the trip.
Ohio State loses a buy game to Florida Atlantic. The epitome of brutality.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) December 7, 2016