Cam Spencer scored a season-high 23 points, including a go-ahead 3-pointer with 15 seconds to play, and Paul Mulcahy added 12 points to lift visiting Rutgers to a 65-62 victory against Northwestern on Wednesday night in Evanston, Ill.
Spencer shot 6-for-7 from beyond the arc as Rutgers went 11-for-18 (61.1 percent) from deep. The Scarlet Knights (12-5, 4-2 Big Ten) won for the sixth time in seven games, scoring the game’s final seven points to stun Northwestern (12-4, 3-2).
Spencer sealed the game from the free throw line. Aundre Hyatt chipped in 10 points for Rutgers, while Clifford Omoruyi snagged 11 rebounds.
Boo Buie had 13 points and seven assists for Northwestern, matching Ty Berry for the team scoring lead. Chase Audige added 12 points.
Rutgers had a chance to take the lead in the final two minutes, but missed a jumper and a layup on the same possession before Julian Roper hit a 3-pointer to put the Wildcats ahead 62-58.
Whistled for just three fouls in the first half, Rutgers committed its fourth foul of the second after only 4:13. Northwestern entered the bonus with 12:22 remaining in the game.
Referees called three fouls between the teams for embellishing contact.
The Wildcats rallied from a 10-point deficit in the second half and took its first lead of the night at 53-52 on an Audige layup with 4:30 left.
Hyatt answered with a go-ahead 3 for Northwestern 14 seconds later.
Both teams struggled to come untracked in the first half, combining to shoot 21-for-58 (36.2 percent) from the floor. Rutgers held a 29-24 advantage at the break behind nine points from Spencer, including a pair of 3-pointers. Buie scored eight points to lead Northwestern.
After beginning the half 8-for-14 from the field, the Scarlet Knights closed at 4-for-16. Rutgers led by as many as 10 in the first 20 minutes.
Rutgers has won five of the past six meetings between the schools. The Scarlet Knights are set to host the Wildcats March 5 in the regular-season finale.
–Field Level Media