Dylan Harper scored 34 points as Rutgers solidified its hold on a spot in the Big Ten Conference tournament with an 89-85 overtime victory against Washington on Wednesday night in Seattle.
Fellow freshman Ace Bailey added 18 points and eight rebounds despite battling foul trouble and Jeremiah Williams scored 13 for the Scarlet Knights (13-14, 6-10 Big Ten), who snapped a three-game losing streak.
Rutgers went 0-for-7 from the field in overtime but made eight free throws, including four by Bailey and three from Harper.
Zoom Diallo and Mekhi Mason scored 20 points apiece for Washington (13-13, 4-11). Tyler Harris scored 17 and Great Osobor had 17 points, five rebounds and four assists before fouling out in the final minute of regulation.
A 3-pointer by Harper gave the Scarlet Knights a five-point lead — their largest of the game — early in the second half.
Mason made a pair of 3-pointers and Harris added a third in a 9-1 run that put Washington ahead with 13:49 left.
The Huskies maintained the edge until Harper hit a 3-pointer from the right wing to tie the score at 71-all with 4:41 remaining.
A 3-pointer by Harris put Washington up 75-74 with 3:08 left.
The teams went back and forth, with Harper making a jumper in the lane to put the Scarlet Knights up 80-79 with 55 seconds left before Osobor scored in the lane with 36 seconds to go make give the Huskies an 81-80 advantage.
The Scarlet Knights committed a turnover with 12.3 seconds left but Williams stole Washington’s ensuing inbounds pass and was fouled, making 1 of 2 free throws to tie the score. Williams’ miss on the second free throw went out of bounds off the Huskies, giving Rutgers the ball.
Harper had a chance to win it in regulation but shot an airball in the final second.
Rutgers took a 42-39 lead at the intermission as Williams made a step-back 3-pointer with four seconds remaining.
With Bailey hampered by two early fouls, Harper took over and scored 15 points in the half.
The Huskies built a 21-15 lead almost midway through the half before Osobor and center Franck Kepnang both picked up their second fouls and had to sit.
After the Huskies went up 34-31, Harper made a 3-pointer and was fouled on a driving layup and converted a three-point play to put Rutgers back up. The visitors led 42-39 at the break.
–Field Level Media
