Ron Harper Jr. hit a 3-pointer with 2.1 seconds left, lifting Rutgers to a 66-63 win over Indiana on Wednesday in Bloomington, Ind.
The Scarlet Knights (17-12, 11-8 Big Ten) rallied from a seven-point halftime deficit to snap a three-game losing streak.
After Indiana’s Parker Stewart made a 3-pointer with 10.3 seconds left to tie the score, Rutgers found Harper downcourt, and he stepped back and drained the winning shot.
Indiana’s last-gasp effort ended with an inbounds pass tipped and a desperation heave by Trayce Jackson-Davis that fell short of the basket.
Harper led Rutgers with 19 points while Clifford Omoruyi and Geo Baker added 13 points apiece. Omoruyi pulled down a game-high 12 rebounds.
Jackson-Davis led Indiana (18-11, 9-10) with 19 points and nine rebounds. Xavier Johnson contributed 13 points and three steals, and Race Thompson scored 12 points. The Hoosiers had a two-game win streak snapped in a result that damaged their NCAA Tournament hopes.
Jackson-Davis scored 15 points in the first half, helping Indiana build a 32-25 halftime lead.
Rutgers shot 47.8 percent from the field and 3 of 6 from 3-point range in the first half but turned the ball over seven times. Indiana shot 41.4 percent and 2 of 11 from beyond the arc in the first half.
Down 37-28, Rutgers stormed back on a 10-0 early second half run to take the lead on an inside basket by Aundre Hyatt. Indiana bounced back, going up 52-45 on a Rob Phinisee basket, before going cold. Rutgers answered with a 7-0 run, with Baker scoring a driving layup to tie the score at 52.
Baker hit another big shot, a 3-pointer to put Rutgers up 57-56 with 2:34 remaining.
Rutgers wound up shooting 44.4 percent from 3-point range (8 of 18), compared to 28.6 percent shooting from long range for Indiana (6 of 21).
–Field Level Media