Rutgers Triumphs Over Notre Dame in Overtime Showdown
LAS VEGAS, Nevada – In a scene that could only be likened to a well-coordinated game of déjà vu, the Rutgers Scarlet Knights faced off against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in an electrifying late-night overtime game reminiscent of their NCAA Tournament heartbreak in 2022. Only this time, fortune favored the bold!
Freshman sensation Dylan Harper was the star of the night, racking up an impressive 36 points and sealing the deal with a free throw that put Rutgers ahead 85-84 with just 3.8 seconds to spare. Talk about a dramatic plot twist worthy of a Hollywood script!
The first half was anything but dull; Rutgers darted ahead to an 81-75 lead in overtime, as if they were playing hopscotch on court. But hold onto your hats, because Notre Dame’s Matt Allocco turned on a 3-point barrage, knocking in three shots in quick succession, including a step-back beauty that knotted the game at 84-all. Clearly, he wasn’t in the mood to just politely hand Rutgers the win!
Yet, in a classic ‘last possession is everything’ scenario, Rutgers maintained their composure. A foul on Harper sent him to the line, where he sank one out of two—just enough to leave the Fighting Irish with a bitter taste at the end of regulation. Allocco’s buzzer-beater 3-point attempt? A heartbreaking rim out. Ouch!
Anyone who was anyone was firing on all cylinders, with Harper hitting an impressive 12-of-22 from the field while pulling down six rebounds and handing out six assists. Captain guard Jeremiah Williams chipped in with ten points and a crucial 3-point shot late in the game, proving that the knights knew how to rally. Junior guard Jordan Derkack was a spark plug off the bench, contributing sixteen points and ensuring there was plenty of juice left in the team’s engine.
And let’s not forget the crucial stat that made this win possible: Rutgers dominated in points off turnovers, outscoring Notre Dame 20-to-4. Clearly, those turnovers were more than just slips—they were opportunities knocking on the Scarlet Knights’ door!
As Rutgers gears up to face No. 9 Alabama next, one can’t help but feel a potent mix of excitement and anxious anticipation. Their path to championship glory is far from easy, but then again, nothing worth having ever is!
Postgame Highlights and Quotes
- Only five D-I freshmen have recorded 36 points, six rebounds, and six assists since 2010. Our hero, Dylan Harper, is the first since Trae Young in 2018.
- Harper becomes the first Rutgers freshman to drop 30-plus points since Corey Sanders in 2016. Welcome to the record books, Dylan!
- RU’s win marks their first victory over Notre Dame since 2012, and their first win against an ACC team since 2021—let’s hope this isn’t just a flash in the pan!
Steve Pikiell: “Just proud of our guys. They bounced back. We’re learning… it’s going to be somebody different every night for us.”
Dylan Harper: “I really try to approach every game the same way… it’s a dream come true to play for Rutgers and have the support of our fans.”
What Lies Ahead
With the energy at an all-time high, the Scarlet Knights are set to take on Alabama, and it’s a definite “game on!” kind of vibe. As head coach Steve Pikiell aptly put it, “Tomorrow is another opportunity to play a great basketball team with a lot of players”—and, frankly, no one is underestimating the Crimson Tide.
So, as we gear ourselves for another thrilling episode of collegiate basketball, let’s just say the knights are back and ready to joust their way to glory. Can’t wait to see how this tournament unfolds!
Box Score LAS VEGAS, Nevada – It felt like deja vu all over again against Notre Dame on Tuesday night in Las Vegas. Rutgers battled the Fighting Irish into a late-night overtime thriller reminiscent of their NCAA Tournament heart-breaking loss in 2022. However, freshman sensation Dylan Harper demonstrated his prowess, leading his team with incredible performances throughout the game.
Harper’s remarkable 36 points, including a crucial free throw that put RU ahead by one with just 3.8 seconds remaining, propelled the Scarlet Knights to an exhilarating 85-84 victory in the first round of the Player’s Era Tournament at MGM Grand Arena.
Rutgers jumped out to an 81-75 lead with 50 seconds left in overtime before Notre Dame’s Matt Allocco made three consecutive 3-pointers in a rapid succession of only 30 seconds, the final shot being a contested step-back that tied the score at 84 with just 12.4 seconds remaining.
However, on the ensuing play, Cole Certa fouled Harper, sending him to the line where he successfully converted the second of his two free throw attempts. Following a timeout called by Notre Dame with 3.9 seconds left, Allocco’s desperate 3-point attempt from beyond the arc hit the rim, sealing Rutgers’ victory.
In the tense closing moments of regulation, Allocco shot a contested 3-pointer that found the net with 8.4 seconds remaining in the game, tying the score at 69-all, forcing the game into overtime. Harper dribbled the length of the court for the final possession; however, his last-second 3-point attempt missed, leading to the additional period.
Harper shot 12-of-22 from the field and made ten of his 14 free throw attempts, while also securing six rebounds and dishing out six assists. Veteran guard Jeremiah Williams provided invaluable support with a pivotal go-ahead three-pointer in the final minutes and contributed significantly overall with ten points, six rebounds, a block, and a steal.
Junior guard Jordan Derkack brought energy and inspiration off the bench with an impressive 16 points, alongside six rebounds and three assists. Freshman guard Ace Bailey found his rhythm late in the game, contributing ten points and four rebounds.. Graduate student Tyson Acuff played impactful minutes off the bench, adding seven points and securing a team-high seven rebounds. Freshman forward Lathan Sommerville contributed five crucial points in the win.
The pivotal factor in the victory was Rutgers’ significant point differential in points off turnovers, where they vastly outperformed the Fighting Irish, scoring 20 points to Notre Dame’s mere 4.
Rutgers now faces the formidable challenge of taking on No. 9 Alabama on Wednesday night, with hopes of advancing to the Championship game on Saturday. The highly anticipated game is set to tip off at 10 p.m. on TruTV.
Postgame Notes
- Only five D-I freshmen have had 36 points, six rebounds and six assists since 2010: Dylan Harper is the first since Trae Young in 2018.
- Dylan Harper became the first Rutgers freshman to score 30-plus points since Corey Sanders in 2016.
- RU improved to 5-1 for the third straight season.
- RU earned the first win over Notre Dame since 2012.
- Rutgers secured its first victory against an ACC team since defeating Clemson on November 30, 2021.
Postgame Quotes
Steve Pikiell Jeremiah Williams Dylan Harper:
STEVE PIKIELL: I want to thank Rutgers nation that traveled. Made it loud in there. That’s how hard it is to win a college basketball game. Played 45 minutes, and it comes down to the last 3 seconds. Just proud of our guys. They bounced back. And we’re learning a lot. We’re learning the group. Tyson Acuff led us in rebounding. He was just ready to play. And every night it’s going to be somebody different for us. But Notre Dame played excellently. I have a ton of respect for their coach. It was a good win. To come in here, and Players Era has done a fantastic job with this tournament. And very thankful for the way they’ve run things here. And we’ve got a huge night’s rest that these guys need now and tomorrow it doesn’t get any easier. So we’ll enjoy this for just a moment.
Q. Dylan, what do you say about your performance today? How did it feel? How did it feel coming off?
DYLAN HARPER: I feel great, not just for me but the whole team. The key thing that stood out to me was J. Will talking about how we need to learn how to win. Just everyone is coming together as a group. Everyone played well from Jordan to me to Jeremiah to even Ace.
Q. Your dad just said when the stage gets bigger you’re going to get better. Do you believe that?
DYLAN HARPER: I try to approach every game the same way. Gotta go out there with that same chip on my shoulder that I always had. That’s one of the reasons I think Coach Pike recruited me.
Q. (General question on Dylan Harper’s performance)?
STEVE PIKIELL: It’s his sixth assist in one tournament in a game like that. He’s still evolving as a player. But it takes everybody for a win, and those guys had to set the screens. The whole group came together. And guys really stepped it up tonight against a strong basketball team.
Q. Jeremiah, there was that open 3-pointer you had, when Dylan went in and penetrated and passed back. When you see that play, do you sense the ball’s coming to you?
JEREMIAH WILLIAMS: Yeah, Dylan Harper is a great player. The ball ended up in my hands, and I just had to make a shot.
Q. What did you think of Matt Allocco’s performance?
JEREMIAH WILLIAMS: He was making unbelievable shots. He made it a very interesting game for us.
Q. (General question on adjustment after Notre Dame’s Markus Burton left the game with an injury)?
STEVE PIKIELL: I hope he’s okay. They have really good players and brought out a couple more shooters, too, which may have changed things a bit for them.
Q. Steve, you mentioned this in your intro comments. To hear that crowd, loudest game, the buzz?
STEVE PIKIELL: It was great seeing the sea of red also. I’m thankful. It’s a long trip out here. It’s the holidays. The Rutgers Nation came out, and these guys deserve it too. Enjoying this opportunity was fantastic.
Q. For you, what was it like to see and hear the fans react as you were coming off the court?
DYLAN HARPER: It’s a dream come true. The support they give us is crazy day by day.
Q. (General question to Dylan about getting some revenge against Notre Dame)?
DYLAN HARPER: That was in the back of my mind during the game. But we stuck it out, and Coach Pike gave us the platform to perform.
Q. You’ve got Cliff tomorrow.
STEVE PIKIELL: I love him. Great kid. Looking forward to playing him.
Q. You play Alabama tomorrow. If you win, you go to the championship game in this tournament. Had a game like this in November against a top 10 team?
STEVE PIKIELL: It’s another opportunity to play a great basketball team. We’re ready for the challenge ahead.
JEREMIAH WILLIAMS: We have another opportunity to do something special, play a great team, and we want to capitalize on it.
DYLAN HARPER: We’re going to play Rutgers basketball at the end of the day. That’s the goal going forward.
