INDIANAPOLIS – For the first time since 1983, Rutgers men's basketball was victorious in an NCAA Tournament game. Playing in the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1991, the No. 10 seeded Scarlet Knights performed on the big stage, defeating No. 7 seed Clemson by a final score of 60-56 at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. 

"I'm excited about the outcome of the game," head coach Steve Pikiell said. "I respect Clemson a great deal. We knew it would be one of these games. I really liked our poise down the stretch. Everybody that checked into the game did some unbelievable things. I'm excited for Rutgers Nation and I'm excited to get to live another 40 minutes."

Jacob Young, Geo Baker and Caleb McConnell each led the team with 13 points. Baker had a late basket to ice the victory. Caleb McConnell had his second career double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds. 

"Our mentality is you never give up on the play," Baker explained. "I'm happy that I made the play. That made it March. All of these game are going to be like that. It was everything I hoped for. Our guys are really excited. This is something we've all imagined for a long time and it was crazier than I'd even pictured. Just to hear all the Rutgers fans in there cheering, we survived and advanced. It was an amazing feeling."

Geo Baker opened the scoring of the program's first NCAA Tournament game in his lifetime, swishing a three. Shortly after, Ron Harper Jr. made an impact play for the highlight reel with a dunk, putting his man on a poster.

The teams exchanged blows in the opening half in a defensive battle. Harper Jr. led the Scarlet Knights with eight points in the opening half. The defense held the Tigers to 31 percent in the opening half, but at the break, Clemson led 26-23.

Paul Mulcahy gave RU an early spark in the second half, making two three-pointers from the corner. Rutgers took control of the boards, holding the Tigers to just one rebound in the opening eight minutes of the second half.

The Scarlet Knights used a 13-2 run to vault into the lead, taking a double-digit advantage at 50-39. Clemson responded with a run of its own, which Jacob Young snapped with a timely three-pointer. The game was tight down the stretch, tied at 55-55 at the under-four media timeout. A clutch late basket from Geo Baker iced the victory. 
 
With the victory, Rutgers advances to the Round of 32. The team will meet No. 2 seed Houston on Sunday at 7:10 p.m. on TBS from Lucas Oil Stadium.

"I want to first give it up to Clemson, they were a very tough team," Caleb McConnell said. "I feel like our defense won it for us, getting stops on the defensive end. It was a great game, a great team effort on both ends, we just toughed it out tonight." We just wanted to stick to Rutgers basketball and do what we do. Get stops, play with each other and finish out tough games like that." 

Postgame Notes

• Rutgers' victory was the first NCAA Tournament win since 1983, when RU defeated Southwestern Louisiana 60-53.
• The win over No. 7 seed Clemson was the highest seed that RU defeated in the NCAA Tournament since topping No. 3 seed Georgetown 64-58 in 1979
• The team won its sixth all-time NCAA Tournament game, improving its all-time NCAA Tournament record to 6-7.
• Rutgers earned its second all-time win over Clemson, evening the series at 2-2.
• Gave Steve Pikiell his first ever NCAA Tournament win as head coach.

INDIVIDUALS
Geo Baker

• Moved past Roy Hodgson for sole-possession of 18^th place all-time in scoring in Rutgers history
• Scored in double-digits for the 13^th time this season and a team-leading 71^st time in his career.
• Made his 100^th career start at Rutgers.

Ron Harper Jr.

• Had his 21^st game this season scoring in double-figures (49^th career).
• Posted his eighth game this season with at least 20 points (14^th this season).

Jacob Young

• Was the lone Rutgers player to make his second career NCAA Tournament appearance. Young previously played in the 2018 NCAA Tournament with Texas.
• Had his team-leading 23^rd game this season in double-digit scoring. It was his 10^th straight game scoring in double-digits.

Caleb McConnell 
- Had his second career double-double (13 points, 10 rebounds)
- Was the first Scarlet Knight with a double-double off the bench in an NCAA Tournament game since Abdel Anderson in 1976 vs. UConn (19 points and 11 rebounds vs. UConn, 3/18/76)




 
Additional Postgame Student-Athlete Quotes

Caleb McConnell

On the game: "I want to first give it up to Clemson. They were a very tough team. That's a hard-working team. I feel like our defense won it for us, getting stops on the defensive end. It was a great game, a great team effort on both ends, we just toughed it out tonight." 

On the mentality down the stretch: "We just wanted to stick to Rutgers basketball and do what we do. Get stops, play with each other and finish out tough games like that." 

On his performance (first double-double this season): "It was really just my will to win. My will to get stops on the defensive end. That just led me to rebound, getting stops and getting steals. It was just my will, wanting it a little more tonight." 

On the locker room post game: "We were all excited. It was a big game, a hard-fought game. We were very excited, but now we have to worry about the next game. We just have to come into that game focused, follow the game plan. Play together and play Rutgers basketball." 

Jacob Young

On the emotion after the game: "It feels great. It feels like we did a big thing. We've been working so hard all year. This is what we've been working for, not just to make it to the NCAA Tournament but to win games in the NCAA Tournament. It' s just been a blessing, doing it with these guys, being with them every day and now finally being here and getting that win, my emotions are going crazy."

On playing in the NCAA Tournament after his dad did: "He set a high bar. It's just a blessing to follow in his footsteps. Now I see what my dad has been talking about all these years. When you win a game in the NCAA Tournament, it feels really good." 

Head coach Steve Pikiell

STEVE PIKIELL: First I'd just like to quickly mention our radio announcer, Coach Joe Boylan. Our prayers are with him. He's in the hospital. We're thinking about you, coach. We miss you on the radio. We had a good game for you today. I hope you got to enjoy it. But our prayers are with you. Speedy recovery.

Obviously excited about the outcome of the game. We respect Clemson a great deal. Brad is one of the best coaches in the country. We knew it would be one of these games. They defend at an elite level. I really liked our poise down the stretch.

Caleb McConnell came off the bench, did some great things. Everybody that checked into the game, again, do some unbelievable things. Especially Brandin Knight had the scout for this game, my assistant coach, he does a great job. Tip of the hat to the prep that was done for this game.

Excited for Rutgers Nation. Excited to get to live another 40 minutes. We're looking forward to the next huge challenge, which is Coach Sampson and Houston.

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. What are you most proud of when you look back at this ballgame? There were ebbs and flows throughout.

STEVE PIKIELL: Yeah, we knew it would be that kind of game. Watching all the tapes, that's how they play. We out-rebounded them, that was a huge key for us. In the second half we really settled down, didn't turn the basketball over. It was another huge key.

We figured out a way to win. Hold a team to 56 points. Our defense and rebounding stepped up, and they we made some really big and timely baskets. Four guys in double figures. It was a good thing we moved the ball in the second half, got guys some open looks.

Again, excited. You survive and advance in these situations.

Q. What was your message to the team afterwards?

STEVE PIKIELL: Yeah, I mean, just proud of them. We got another game coming up here. We don't have a lot of time. Enjoy it for a little bit, then we'll get ready and prep for the next one.

But certainly for the first time these guys being on this stage, they were locked in from the beginning. We've had great practices this whole week. I like how they played with that swagger. Jacob, Ron, Caleb, all those guys, Myles had some big rebounds for us. All the guys that came in, too. Paul always does what he does. Montez always gives us great energy. We're going to need them all. We got a big one coming up with a quick turnaround.

Q. Can you summarize what this moment is like for you and everyone in the program?

STEVE PIKIELL: It was great. Rutgers Nation came out, whatever tickets were available. They were loud. That helps. Our guys are excited to have some fans. It's been a long year with no fans, so it was great. Hopefully we can get some more out here in the next couple days.

But big step for our program to win a game against a really good team in the ACC, a well-coached club that really, really are elite defenders, really good players. Simms is a problem, as you could see tonight. I thought we did a good job in the second half of settling down with him. But good team win.

Q. Is it sort of fitting after waiting that long for an NCAA tournament game that it would be this type of game? What was it like for you watching the final seconds?

STEVE PIKIELL: Yeah, I thought the last 3:50 I think we held them to one point. I told guys coming out of that timeout, we have enough points to win, you just got to hold on and keep defending. Geo makes obviously a big play. Made a big out-of-bounds under play, too, where hit the three. Everyone made some big plays, big rebounds, kept balls alive. I liked our energy the whole time.

They stuck together even when things weren't going our way. They're a good group. They're resilient. We've been through a lot. It's been a two-year journey, too. I like the toughness. We toughed out a win, old fashion, keep them to 56 points is a really good sign.

Q. You mentioned Caleb. How big was it to have this type of night, make some of the plays he did, especially in a game like this?

STEVE PIKIELL: I mean, huge. He came in, he had great energy right off the bat. I mean, to get 13 points and 10 rebounds, three assists, too, a steal. I mean, very involved.

He's a really good defender, too. Those are his offensive numbers. I know when I go through the tape, the defense that he played, too, you'll really see some more things.

Really excited about his minutes. All the guys. Paul chipped in, hit some big threes for us. They all did great things. But to have a double-double on this stage, I know he played great defense, because you can count on him for that every night. Tip of the hat to Caleb.

Q. You had losing seasons each of your first three years here, then a 20-win season last year, the tournament canceled because of COVID. Was there a point in the past where you were worried tonight would never happen? Was there a point in the past that you knew tonight would happen?

STEVE PIKIELL: I was always confident that it would happen. Last year it was supposed to happen. Obviously because of COVID, it cut our season short. But we had to fight back this year and prove it again. Our guys did.

I know they weren't happy and satisfied just being here. I know they want to keep playing. They kind of took that approach. Again, great week of practice, great energy before the game. Even at halftime when we were down, they stayed the course, got rewarded, so...

Excited for them. And they're excited. It's a resilient group.

Q. The fact that those last four minutes, it was all about Geo scores your last five points, defense holding them to one point, two things that have been the mainstays of your team for the last two years.

STEVE PIKIELL: We made some timely baskets, too. Important. In a game like this, too, I looked at all their scores. My God, if you go through the scores, 38 points, they give up 40 points, 41. They've beaten some elite teams. When I watched them beat Alabama, Purdue, Maryland, hold those teams to season lows, I knew we were facing an elite defensive team. I said to our group we can win games by scoring well. We've had to win games all kinds of different ways this year.

I have confidence in our defense. I knew rebounding would be a huge key, if we were able to be plus nine on the glass. That was huge for us. But we can win games in the 60s, too. We don't mind that. They dictate the tempo, too. They get you running late-clock situations because their defense is so good. We were able to do the same thing to them.

But timely baskets down the end. We executed and got some good looks. Even the ones we didn't make I thought were the looks we wanted, although they made it difficult for us, for sure.

Q. The last stretch where Myles hobbled out, Ron had to pick up Simms on that possession, the job he did. How did the team keep their composure when they had to face adversity like that?

STEVE PIKIELL: We had adversity all year long, so I was glad they responded. Myles has been in foul trouble, too. We've been in that situation before.

Ron can guard multiple players. We were confident that he did. I just wanted to have another ball handler in the game, too, with Paul. Was able to make those adjustments. Those guys are big enough and strong enough to guard forwards if they have to. Thought Ron did a pretty good job. The guy stayed the course, got a couple big stops down the stretch.

Q. Every game is like this in the Big Ten. Do you feel you're equipped for this type of bowl game because of the character your club has developed and the experience of these nail-biters?

STEVE PIKIELL: Yeah, we've been in them before. We've had our backs against the wall. We've had to win games on the road or wherever it may be. We are experienced. Even our younger players have played and logged a lot of minutes.

When we stay focused and are together, we can do some good things. Excited we get to play another day. Look forward to the next challenge. That's Houston.

Q. Really fresh off this win, but any thoughts on Houston?

STEVE PIKIELL: They're really good. I mean, obviously they're a 2 seed. They got a great Hall of Fame caliber coach. We'll get to work. My assistants have done an unbelievable job. Huge challenge for us. Talented team. Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, most improved player. I think they got every single award in that conference.

Really good, big challenge for us.

Q. Jacob Young, he was the only player on this team who had past tournament experience. He came through when the guys really needed something. How important was that experience tonight?

STEVE PIKIELL: Yeah, he's tough. He likes these kind of games, too, first and foremost. I love the job he did in the second half. He settled down, didn't have any turnovers. He's really good defensively. He brings a swagger to our team, too. He's an elite defensive guard. He's one of the fastest guys in the country.

Yeah, his experience, his work ethic, he's in the gym all the time. And it paid off. He shot the ball really well tonight. Making three threes was really huge for us. But he's continuing to have a really good senior year.

Q. Is Myles okay? Looked like he got banged up a little bit.

STEVE PIKIELL: Yeah, we'll figure that out. He's with Rich right now. I don't have any updates on him. Yeah, he came out of the game. Couldn't finish the game. We'll figure that out and hopefully he'll be okay.

Q. In the media notes it said that Geo is known for his late-game heroics. He's done that all season. At this point does it just kind of become expected?

STEVE PIKIELL: I mean, he's done it a lot throughout his whole career. Even his freshman year on, he's made big plays for us, big baskets. He's very confident. We're confident in him, too. I think the players are confident.

But he can also make the right pass, too. When you have the ball in his hands, good things can happen. He certainly never shies away from taking a big one. Thankful to have a guy like that. He's made a lot of them for us.

THE MODERATOR: Thank you, coach.

On vindication for the program after the win: "This was a main reason I came to Rutgers, to help make the tournament, and now we've accomplished that. We have everything going around here. I'm just living in the moment now and looking forward to Sunday."