Tariq Francis scored six of his 30 points in overtime and made 10 of 11 free throws for the game to lead Rutgers to an 88-85 win over Oregon on Monday night in Piscataway, N.J.
Rutgers (8-7, 1-3 in Big Ten) got its first conference win of the season after trailing by eight at halftime and storming back but being unable to put away the Ducks in the final seconds of regulation.
In the extra session, Rutgers fought off two chances to tie or take the lead for the Ducks in the last 11 seconds of the game. The Scarlet Knights made 5 of 7 from the field in overtime.
Lino Mark, Darren Buchanan Jr. and Jamichael Davis added 13 points each for Rutgers. It was a career high for Mark, a freshman. Buchanan made a crucial 3-pointer and a dunk in overtime.
Nate Bittle’s 28 points led Oregon (8-7, 1-3), with a career-high 23 points from guard Wei Lin, who got the start in place of injured Ducks star Jackson Shelstad. Kwame Evans Jr. had 14 points and 13 rebounds for the Ducks.
It appeared Rutgers would get the win after a steal and free throw by Mark gave the Scarlet Knights a 76-73 lead with 17 seconds to play. Mark missed the second free throw and nearly got his own rebound, but referees called a foul on Mark and gave Oregon possession.
After Oregon’s first 3-point attempt was blocked, Lin knocked down a 3-pointer with four seconds left to tie the score and send the game into overtime.
Lin, who played professionally in China before coming to Oregon prior to this season, hit three 3-pointers and a jumper inside of the final three minutes of regulation. A pair of Francis free throws gave Rutgers a 73-68 lead with 1:58 to play, but Lin responded with a 3-pointer for Oregon 17 seconds later.
Oregon took a 40-31 lead on a 3-pointer from seldom-used guard Drew Carter with 1:52 to play in the first half. The nine-point lead was the Ducks’ largest of the game.
Lin scored 11 first-half points, making all four of his shot attempts including three 3-pointers. A 3-pointer from Evans with a second left on the first-half clock sent the Ducks into halftime with a 45-37 lead.
Rutgers clawed back in the opening stages of the second half, and Francis’ three-point play and Buchanan’s bucket put the Scarlet Knights back on top at 52-51. They later used a 7-0 run to establish their 71-65 lead.
–Field Level Media
