PISCATAWAY – Rutgers (13-15, 3-12) scored 32 of the game's final 45 points to overcome a double-digit deficit in a 67-58 overtime defeat of Northwestern (15-12, 6-8) Tuesday evening at the RAC. Corey Sanders shot 11-of-22 to register 30 points for the Scarlet Knights, who limited the Wildcats to a 23.5 percent (8-of-34) field goal percentage over the contest's final 25 minutes.

"I'm happy and proud for our guys," said Rutgers head coach Steve Pikiell. "We've had a tough stretch. We've gotten through injuries. We've gotten through a lot of different things. These guys were awesome."

Sanders forced the extra stanza via a 26-foot, 3-pointer with 5.9 seconds on the clock. The Scarlet Knights assumed their first and final lead when Issa Thiam deposited a triple from the left wing with 2:15 remaining in overtime. The sophomore's 3-pointer ignited an 11-0 run for the home squad the close the contest.

Thiam joined Sanders in double digits with 10 points, while grabbing eight rebounds. Eugene Omoruyi and Mike Williams, both in their second game back in the lineup after missing time due to injury, each contributed eight points off the bench. Omoruyi supplemented his effort with a team-best 10 rebounds.

The Scarlet Knights committed just eight miscues to benefit 14-4 in points-off-turnovers.

"Guys were locked in and I wanted to get second shots up against their zone, too," said Pikiell. "We've been pretty good about taking care of the ball all year. We've had a few games where it's kind of slipped away. But, when these guys are locked in, and having Mike and Eugene back, helps us in that area."

The Wildcats shot 55.6 percent in the initial 20 minutes to establish a 33-24 advantage at the midpoint. The Rutgers defense clamped down after the break in response, and RU began to tweak the twine with consistency while out-rebounding the visitors 41-37 to benefit 20-13 in second chance points.

Scottie Lindsey scored 15 of his team-high 19 points in the second half to lead the Wildcats, who held a 56-50 advantage entering the final minute of regulation. Sanders had other plans for the game's conclusion, however, posting the contest's final six points to enable RU's first overtime victory at the RAC in six years.

"I thought Corey was in a great groove tonight," said Pikiell. "He knows I'm going to say this too; to heck with his offense, I thought his defense was spectacular the whole night. I thought he got through screens, I thought he did an unbelievable job and he was confident. He had a little swagger tonight and that's how I want him to play."

Rutgers returns to the hardwood Saturday evening at Maryland. The contest will tip-off at 8 p.m. on BTN.

Single game tickets for Rutgers men's basketball home games are available online or by calling the Rutgers Ticket Office at 1-866-445-GORU.

Follow Rutgers men's basketball on Facebook (www.facebook.com/RutgersMBB), Twitter (www.twitter.com/RutgersMBB) and Instagram (www.instagram.com/RutgersMBB) for additional news and updates.
 
Rutgers Postgame Notes

• Rutgers' overtime win was its first in extra time since Feb. 25, 2012, a 77-72 victory at Seton Hall. It was the first overtime win at the RAC since Dec. 29, 2011, an 85-83 double-overtime triumph over No. 10 Florida.
• Down 10 (45-35) with 10 minutes to play in the second half, Rutgers closed on 32-13 run.
• It marked RU's second win in 15 tries this season when trailing or tied at halftime.
• Rutgers took its first lead of the game 2:35 into overtime on Issa Thiam's three-point field goal.
• The Scarlet Knights held Northwestern to an 8-for-34 mark (.235) from the field in the second half and overtime. Rutgers countered with a 14-of-32 pace (.438) to complete the comeback.
• Scoring 30, Corey Sanders moves into 18^th place all-time in Rutgers scoring history with 1,260 points, surpassing Kevin Black (1979-83), Bucky Hatchet (1946-50) and Keith Hughes (1989-91).
• Adding four assists, Sanders moved into a four-way tie for tenth in all-time helpers with 311. He surpassed Marquis Webb (2003-07) and tied Mike Dabney (1972-76), Craig Carter (1987-91) and Jeff Greer (1997-01).
• Eugene Omoruyi made his first start of the season, and responded with a career-high 10 rebounds and a season-high three steals. 
• Mike Williams scored eight points, surpassing Gene Armstead (1970-73) and Mike Rosario (2008-10) for 36^th all-time in Rutgers scoring with 1,052 career tallies.
• Rutgers committed fewer turnovers than an opponent (12-8) for the 22^nd time in 27 games, improving to 12-10 in those contests.
• The Scarlet Knights outscored an opponent in second chance points (20-13) and points off turnovers (14-4), both for the 19^th time in 2017-18.
• With field goal percentages at 40%-38% in Rutgers' favor, the Scarlet Knights improved to 9-2 when outshooting an opponent.
• Tonight's contest marked the first time this season that 100 percent of Rutgers' competing players scored at least one point.
• Sanders scored 30+ for the second time this season, and third time in his career. In double-figures for the 21^st time this season and 65^th time in his career, it was also his 12^th time leading Rutgers in scoring.
• Rutgers moves to 2-9 in the all-time series with Northwestern and gets its first win ever over the Wildcats at the RAC.

 
Post-Game Quotes
 
Rutgers Head Coach Steve Pikiell
Opening statement: "Always appreciate everyone coming. Thankful for the crowd tonight. Late night, late night. They were loud at the end, and I appreciate it very much. I'm happy and proud for our guys. We've had a tough stretch. We've gotten through injuries. We've gotten through a lot of different things. These guys were awesome. We got off to a good start early, which we have not been doing lately. I have a ton of respect for Northwestern. It's one of the best programs in the league. The coach does a great job, they've got good players, and they made plays down the stretch too. We just made a few more and we got contributions from everybody. So, it was a nice team win for us tonight."

On the final offensive sequence in regulation: I thought Corey was in a great groove tonight. He knows I'm going to say this too; to heck with his offense I thought his defense was spectacular the whole night. I thought he got through screens, I thought he did an unbelievable job and he was confident. He had a little swagger tonight and that's how I want him to play. But, I thought everybody, Eugene made big plays for us, gave us great energy. Candido came in and did some great things. Issa, some steals and some threes. Shaq gets a steal, not many steals coming his way usually. So, a lot of good things and we made our free throws. I get a million emails a week about free throw shooting, so I hope for one night I won't get that. We made them down the stretch. I think we're seven for seven down the stretch to kind of ice the game."

On the energy from Eugene and Mike returning: Tremendous. Forget about the numbers, they're tough, they're very good team defenders. Mike is a veteran and, on a team that doesn't have a lot of veterans, Eugene is a veteran too. So, great to have them back. Inserted them in the lineup and thought he gave us tremendous energy and he really helped us in a lot of ways."

On keeping the players focused: "We've been hanging in there in these games and I knew if we just kept plugging away at the defense end, we'd get enough opportunities to score. He (Corey) makes a bunch of huge plays down the stretch on both ends of the floor. Eugene makes a big play at the end with 1.2 seconds to make sure they didn't score on that play. So, I just think both of them, they hung in there and they were tough. The crowd gave us a good lift and everyone was ready to play."

On the message at half time: "We were concerned with their big guys. They had 18 of their first half points. I thought Falzon came in and gave them good looks. Pardon is a good player. I was very concerned with him in the post, but they've got a lot of perimeter guys that can shoot it too. So, they had a lot of players. If you start doubling in the post you get problems. I felt comfortable and Shaq and Candido said they can guard him one-on-one in the post. I thought we did a great job in the second half, limited them to 24 points. Then, I thought we ID'd Falzon a few times too, we had lost him in the first half."

On the DNP for Freeman: "Just a coach's decision. Trying to get some energy and trying to change up the lineup with Eugene back. I went with the guys that I thought could win us the game and I liked all the guys that got in. So, it's just a game adjustment."

On Issa's two crucial three pointers: "I thought he was getting good looks too. I thought we kind of attacked that zone in two days of prep. It's not a lot of prep. I liked even the ones he missed. Issa can shoot the ball and I think Geo can too. Mike came in and gave us a lift too. We didn't have that for I don't know how many games; for a zillion games. We have enough guys that can makes shots. I thought Issa hung with it and he always plays pretty good defense and he had to work on that end of the floor today too. Then he grabbed some big rebounds. Again, great day for him, and I think for everyone. Everyone that checked in really helped us."

On the defending from his bigs: "I liked all of them. Candido grabbed eight rebounds and we made some big plays down the stretch. Shaq in the post in the second half and got some good minutes out of him. Douc will wrestle too, in the post. I thought the bigs did a good job and Pardon has been a problem for a lot of people. So, we did a good job of guarding him one-on-one as best we could. We didn't want to double down and leave any of those shooters open. They've got really good shooters at all spots."

On taking care of the ball, giving away only 8 turnovers: "Guys were locked in and I wanted to get second shots up against their zone, too. We've been pretty good about taking care of the ball all year. We've had a few games where it's kind of slipped away. But, when these guys are locked in, and having Mike back, having Eugene back. Eugene is a low turnover guy. He can make some plays too. So those help us in those areas."
 
Northwestern Head Coach Chris Collins
 
On the second half: "We had a six-point lead with a minute to go. We were up seven or nine at half. Not much changed until the last minute, especially we didn't have our point guard the whole second half. We had a six-point lead shooting a one-and-one to go up by eight with a minute to go. I didn't think a whole lot changed until that moment. Then we just didn't finish the game off. We missed the one-and-one, we foul a three-point jump shooter. He makes three free throws. I thought we ran a good play and had an open shot, and just missed it. Give (Corey Sanders) credit. The three was contested and he hit a tough shot. Even then, I thought we had a great look right at the basket with a second to go. It was more about how we finished. We played the whole second half without (Bryant) McIntosh. Scottie (Lindsey) made some big shots. Anthony Gaines hit a big three for us in the corner. We couldn't finish the deal in the last minute."
 
On not pulling away: "They're a hard-nosed team. We had some runs early and they battled back. It seemed like we never lost the lead, but they were hanging around the whole game. You knew they would, that's how they play, especially here. They played the Michigan States and Purdues all the way to the final buzzer. That's what this team does. We knew we were going to have to fight for 40 minutes. Again, I liked where we were. You're up six with one of our best free-throw shooters shooting a one-and-one to go up eight with about a minute to go. We just couldn't finish the deal."
 
On next steps: "You have to get home, get rested and get ready for a game. We've just had a stretch of 5-of-6 on the road. We won three of them, went 3-3 during that stretch. Had an opportunity tonight to go 4-2, couldn't finish the deal. We have to get home and have a couple days to get ready for a great Michigan State team."
 
On Corey Sanders: "He's a terrific player. I thought he made some great shots. He hit some mid-range, some tough pull-ups and obviously making the three free throws. And the three, I thought it was a contested shot. We were all over. You have to tip your hat to him. I thought he had a great game."
 
On advice with a rebuilding program: "Just stay the course. They're doing the right things. They have a great plan. They play incredibly hard, they show up every night and compete. Their young players are getting experience. Even throughout some losing streaks or times that maybe are going bad, you have to stay the course and keep believing in what you're doing, which (Steve Pikiell) will. He's a terrific coach and there's no question this program's on the rise."