BLOOMINGTON, IND. – Ron Harper Jr. knows a thing or two about hitting the game-winning shot.
The senior forward drilled a three-pointer with 2.1 seconds left on the clock to send the Rutgers men's basketball team home from Bloomington a 66-63 victory at Assembly Hall on Wednesday night.
RU finished the game converting of five of it's last seven field goal attempts and were led by Harper Jr.'s game-high 19 points to defeat the Hoosiers in a comeback victory.
"It was a great moment," Harper Jr. said. "I had kind of seen Geo (Baker) when I was inbounding the ball. His man was pressuring him, so I called for it. Coach Pikiell always says he trusts in me in that moment. Once I let it go, it felt real good. I got good rotation on the ball and it was in rhythm. I just saw it go up and knew it was good."
"Ron has just gotten better his whole career and wants to take those shots," head coach
Steve Pikiell said. "I had a timeout I could have used, but I felt good."
Baker commented to Harper Jr.'s confidence to take the last shot.
"I feel like it always starts with the work," Baker said. "It starts with the underdog mentality. Neither of us were big recruited guys, you know we're underdogs. When you put the work in and then you combine it with that mentality and you just want to prove everybody wrong than you get that result."
The shot moves RU to (17-12) on the season as a whole and (11-8) in conference play as the team is fighting for their NCAA Tournament bid hopes. The Indiana crowd went silent on Harper Jr.'s jumper sunk through the net with a few seconds remaining.
"Hitting a shot at home is great, but I feel like hitting a shot on the road is better," Harper Jr. said. "The place was roaring in the final minutes and when they hit that three to tie it the place erupted. For me, to hear it go from 100 to zero is just the best feeling."
Harper Jr. was (7-12) from the field and (5-8) from beyond the arc. Harper Jr. added four assists and six boards.
Baker hit a three-pointer with a hand in his face with 2:33 remaining on the clock to give the Scarlet Knights a 57-56 lead. Baker had 13 points, hit three long balls and added three assists.
Clutch free-throw shooting from center
Clifford Omoruyi and forward
Aundre Hyatt, who subbed in following an ejection of guard
Paul Mulcahy, helped RU maintain the lead until the final few possessions.
A three-pointer for forward Parker Stewart of Indiana tied the game 63-63 with 10 seconds left, before RU's game-winning possession. Rutgers trailed by seven points heading into halftime and an adjustment to a zone fullcourt defense by Pikiell helped fuel the Scarlet Knights comeback.
The Scarlet Knights have won 11 Big Ten Conference games, tying the 2019-20 team for the most ever Big Ten wins in a season. RU claimed its fourth Big Ten road win of the season. That ties last season's team for the most ever road wins in Big Ten play.
Baker and Harper Jr. were asked who was more clutch at the end of their postgame press conference.
"I think it's pick your poison," Baker laughed. "All I know is when Ron calls for the ball like that than I am going to give it to him every time."
Omoruyi had his sixth double-double on the season with 13 points and 12 rebounds. Senior
Caleb McConnell had eight points, five rebounds and two steals in the victory. RU ran its winning streak against the Hoosiers to five straight and seven of the past eight games. Rutgers will be back at home for the final regular season game against Penn State for Senior Night on Sunday at noon.
"Senior Day is coming up and I am certianly going to cry for all of these guys," Pikiell said. "These guys believed in Rutgers when there wasn't as much to believe in here and I am really thankful for them."
