Dylan Harper’s buzzer-beating 3-pointer secured a thrilling 66-63 victory for Rutgers over Seton Hall on Saturday. This dramatic moment not only showcased Harper’s skill but also highlighted the intense rivalry between the two New Jersey teams.
In the final minute, Harper had put the Scarlet Knights ahead by four points with a short jumper. However, both he and teammate Ace Bailey missed critical free throws, which allowed Isaiah Coleman to tie the game with a basket and two free throws with just 6.4 seconds remaining. With the game on the line, Harper received the inbounds pass, skillfully dribbled up the court, and launched the decisive 3-pointer.
As the nation’s leading freshman scorer, Harper finished the game with four 3-pointers and a total of 24 points. Bailey contributed significantly as well, adding 21 points for Rutgers (7-4), which displayed impressive shooting with a 53% success rate.
On the other side, Seton Hall (5-6) saw Coleman score 15 points, while Yacine Toumi added 10 points. Emmanuel Okorafor stood out with a game-high 10 rebounds and eight points. The Pirates managed to shoot 46% from the field.
Both teams struggled at the free-throw line, with Rutgers converting only 13 of 28 attempts and Seton Hall hitting 6 of 13. The Scarlet Knights’ missed opportunities in the closing moments contributed to the nail-biting finish.
Seton Hall had a strong start, leading by six points at halftime and extending their advantage to 10 early in the second half. However, Harper’s remarkable performance, scoring 11 points during a 20-6 run, shifted the momentum in Rutgers’ favor, leading to six lead changes in the last 10 minutes.
The Pirates capitalized on 11 turnovers by Rutgers in the first half, which helped them secure a 33-27 lead, marking the highest number of turnovers for the Scarlet Knights in any half this season. Remarkably, Rutgers tightened up their game, committing only four turnovers in the second half.
With this victory, Rutgers has now defeated their New Jersey rival in back-to-back games for the first time since 2015, ending an 11-game stretch without a win against Seton Hall.
Looking ahead, Seton Hall will kick off their Big East campaign against Villanova on Tuesday. Meanwhile, Rutgers is set to face Princeton in a neutral site matchup at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J., on December 21.
