WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Rutgers (20-11, 11-9) limited Purdue (16-15, 9-11) to 33.8 percent (22-of-65) shooting to earn a 71-68 overtime victory Saturday afternoon at a sold-out Mackey Arena. With the dramatic win, the Scarlet Knights earned their first 20-win regular season since 1982-83.
"I'm just proud of our guys," said Pikiell. "They've sacrificed a lot. They've given of themselves. And today was a perfect example. Everyone stepped up and made big plays. We were a good basketball team and you saw that, playing in as hostile of an environment as you can."
Geo Baker led RU with 19 points, one of four players to register double-figures.
Ron Harper Jr. added 15, with
Akwasi Yeboah and
Jacob Young contributing 11 and 10, respectively.
"Geo is tremendous," added Pikiell. "He wanted the ball at the end. He made some real tough shots. We took advantage of some mismatches."
Playing before its Senior Day crowd, Purdue jumped-out to a 5-0 lead, but the Scarlet Knights responded with an 8-0 run highlighted by 3-pointers from Baker and
Montez Mathis. A second five-point advantage by the Boilers was once again answered, as Rutgers shot confidently from behind the arc to enter the locker room at the midpoint with a 36-33 lead.
The Scarlet Knights shot 67 percent (6-of-9) from long distance in the first half, while Purdue was a perfect 8-of-8 at the charity stripe in the energized environment. RU limited the home squad to 3-of-13 (23%) shooting from 3-point distance, while out-rebounding its hosts 23-13.
Early in the second half, RU extended its lead to 39-33, but Purdue countered with an 8-0 run. The defense kicked in, with Rutgers forcing Purdue into a 1-of-10 stretch from the field.
The teams traded 6-0 runs, with the score tied at 47 with eight minutes to play. After Baker drilled a 3-pointer with 5:43 on the clock, Rutgers held a 51-49 lead.
A defensive battle came down to the wire. A Baker step-back jumper provided RU a 57-54 advanage with two minutes to go. Mathis then gave RU a 59-55 lead with two free throws at the 1:25 mark, but Purdue answered with a 3-pointer to make it a one-point game in the final minute.
Purdue took a 60-59 lead with 30 seconds remaining, but Baker had an answer. His step-back jumper provided RU a 61-60 edge with 10 seconds to go. Purdue made a free throw with 2.7 seconds left to send the game to overtime.
In the extra stanza, Young scored the first basket, and Purdue answered. Then it was Young with a highlight play, throwing down a massive slam dunk and turning it into a 3-point play for a 66-63 lead. Purdue then deposited a 3-pointer to tie the contest.
Harper Jr. followed with a triple, giving RU a 69-66 advantage in the final minute. Purdue went to the foul line and made two free throws, cutting its deficit to one. Baker proceeded to seal the victory with a jumper with 11 seconds showing. The RU defense held stout at the other end as the buzzer sounded.
"We are going to enjoy today," said Pikiell. :We've won two games this week over good basketball teams. This is a good team. We can play with anybody in the country. I feel that way about our team and I think our best days are ahead."
The Scarlet Knights next head to Indianapolis to compete in the 2020 Big Ten Conference Tournament at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Rutgers will play on Thursday after earning its first opening round bye in a conference tournament since the 1995 Atlantic 10 Championship.
POSTGAME NOTES
- The victory provided RU its first 20-win regular season since 1982-83 and first 20-win season overall since 2003-04.
- Rutgers has out-rebounded its opponent in 22 of 31 games this season.
- Entering today's game, RU has been out-scored by an average of 23.0 points at Mackey Arena since joining the Big Ten.
- Akwasi Yeboah scored in double figures 17th this season and 87th time in his career.
- Ron Harper Jr. scored in double figures for the 18th time this season and 28th time in his career.
- Geo Baker scored in double figures for the 16th time this season and 58th time in his career.
- Purdue entered the game 17th in scoring defense (62.4 ppg), which RU topped with 71 points.
- Rutgers shot 50 percent from three-point range (nine-of-18). That tied for the second most three-pointers ever made in a Big Ten game, tied RU's season-high in three pointers made, and was the team's best three-point percentage of the season.
- The last time RU shot at least 50% from three-point distance was last season against Drexel (November 11, 2018).
- The last time RU shot at least 50% from three-point distance against a Big Ten team was 2017-18 against Indiana (March 1, 2018)
- Geo Baker posted 19 points, six rebounds, three assists and two steals.
- He now has 1,041 career points. He moves past Rick Dadika and Marquis Webb for sole possession of 41st all-time at Rutgers.
- He now has 117 career steals, tying Marquis Webb, Steve Worthy and Geoff Billett for 17th place all-time at RU.
POSTGAME QUOTES
Head Coach Steve Pikiell
On the game: "This has been a really tough place for us to play. It's been a tough place for everyone to play. I'm just proud of our guys. They've sacrificed a lot. They've given of themselves. And today was a perfect example. Everyone stepped up and made big plays. We were a good basketball team and you saw that, playing in as hostile of an environment as you can. Even when some calls didn't go our way down the stretch we stayed the course. I'm real proud of our guys. I'm happy for Rutgers nation and happy for my team."
On the team's finish to the regular season: "When you play the toughest schedule in the country over the last eight games like we have, playing in this league, this league is a monster to win games. To be able to go through the toughest schedule in the country down the stretch and stay the course. We were playing all ranked teams or teams that had been ranked. We go on the road, we've been playing tough road games. Michigan State, Wisconsin, at Maryland, those places are tough to play at. Purdue is right up there with them for how hard it is to play at. To get a win here is really awesome."
On Geo Baker: "Geo is tremendous. He wanted the ball at the end. He made some real tough shots. We took advantage of some mismatches. We did a good job of feeding guys.
Jacob Young made some huge plays for us. Ron Harper made some big plays.
Shaq Carter defensively down the stretch was awesome, even when
Myles Johnson fouled out."
On rebounding: "They got back the game because of offensive rebounds. That's a big strength of theirs. I'm glad we outrebounded them, that was a big key for us."
On what the win means: "We are going to enjoy today. We've won two games this week over good basketball teams. This is a good team. We can play with anybody in the country. I feel that way about our team and I think our best days are ahead."
Rutgers Guard Geo Baker
On mindset going into the second half: "It was the same mentality. I had the right mentality in the first half. I thought I just wasn't getting shots. I think I took four shots in the first half, maybe three. Just trying to be a little more aggressive, I guess, towards the second half. It's a long game, their guys starting getting a little more tired. There was less ball pressure in the second half so I felt like I could get to my spots a little bit better. Just played hard."
On handling Purdue's defense: "We were trying to create mismatches with ball screen stuff. I felt like I was getting the right defenders on me so I could get a step on them. After that, they started backing up a little bit, playing their drops and I was able to get a couple of pull-up jump shots."
On "putting the team on his back" at the end of the game: "It's amazing. It's not even really putting the team on my back. That's my role. Everyone has a role on this team and my role is to get the ball at the end of the game and make a play. I'm very comfortable in that role, win or lose. I want that. I want the ball at the end of the game."
Purdue Head Coach Matt Painter
On Geo Baker and Rutgers: "He did a good job. The shot he made at the end of regulation was a really tough shot. When he gets hot like that, if you've watched him, he makes those plays. It's amazing he averages just 11 points. He has had a handful of games this year just like the game he had today where he just makes impossible shots. They got the matchup they wanted at the end, he got that shot, and made it, and that was huge. Give him credit. He's a good played. He made tough shots. They all made tough shots tonight. I thought
Jacob Young's drive and dunk was a huge play. Ron Harper's three, he was very efficient, comes on the road and scored 15 points on nine shots. Give Rutgers credit, they continue to make plays. This wasn't one of those grinder type games where neither team could score. They made plays."
On rebounding: "They were quicker to the ball. Rutgers, they were quicker in the first half. Loose balls, they ended up getting those. They got a lot of the 50-50 balls. They were out hustling us, more loose balls and hustle plays."
Gallery: (3/7/2020) Men's Basketball Wins at Purdue
