COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — The Ohio State men’s basketball team won on Thursday with an epic buzzer beater and that has propelled them up the rankings.

The Buckeyes (7-2, 1-0) have been ranked No. 23 in the new AP men’s college basketball poll following the team’s last-gasp victory over Rutgers 67-66 on Thursday in Columbus. Tanner Holden’s buzzer-beater gave OSU its second-straight win as they enter the tail-end of its non-conference schedule.

The rankings saw another big shakeup after No. 1 Houston lost to No. 8 Alabama 71-65 on Saturday, putting Purdue as the new top-ranked side in the country. The Crimson Tide’s second win over a No. 1 team this season has them up to No. 4 in the latest poll.

Ohio State will play just once this week as they head to Chapel Hill for a Saturday meeting with the North Carolina Tar Heels. The preseason No. 1 team dropped out of the top 25 after losing four consecutive games. Tip-off is scheduled for 3 p.m.

AP Poll (Dec. 12, 2022)