Rutgers men's basketball win close road battle over Nebraska
After facing a late second-half deficit, the Rutgers men’s basketball team escaped with a 63-61 road win over Nebraska on Saturday evening. The Scarlet Knights (12-8, 6-4) now stand at 6-4 in conference play with a month of ranked opponents ahead of them.
The Cornhuskers (6-15, 0-10) held the lead for all of the first half, with their widest margin of 11 points reached on two made free throws from Bryce McGowens with 4:04 remaining.
Up until the end of the first half, Rutgers would go on an 8-0 run to shrink Nebraska's lead to 3 points, making the score 31-28 entering halftime. Points on the run were scored by senior guards Geo Baker and Caleb McConnell and freshman guard Jalen Miller.
Despite getting the lead down to 3 points to end the half, the Knights remained down by a few possessions for most of the second half. It was in the final 5 minutes of the game when Rutgers made its push that ultimately resulted in victory.
The Knights got the lead down to 1 point on a three-pointer from senior guard Ron Harper Jr. with 3:54 to play. Rutgers would finally take its first lead of the game on a layup from junior guard Paul Mulcahy with 1:32 to play, a lead that the team would not relinquish for the rest of the game.
The Knights would give the Cornhuskers, down by 3 points, one last chance to tie with 3 seconds remaining as Kobe Webster was fouled by Baker for three free throws. Despite the opportunity, Webster missed 2 of the 3 free throws to end the game.
“We needed everybody," said head coach Steve Pikiell after the game. “Once we stopped fouling them and made them earn shots, I thought our defense was really good and kind of carried us … We did enough to be on the road and win, so I am really proud (of the) team effort.”
Rutgers was led in scoring by Baker who scored 14 points in the win. Off the bench, sophomore forward Mawot Mag had a season-high 13 points and seven rebounds in 21 minutes of action. Mag did not miss a shot on the night, as he shot 100 percent from the field and made all four of his free throws. The Melbourne, Australia, native also had one block.
“It's special for (Mag)," Baker said. "He's been battling injuries, a whole bunch of stuff. So just to see him thrive like that, it was special. It was a big moment, too. We really needed this win on the road.”
Mulcahy joined Baker and Mag in double-figures with 10 points and filled up the stat sheet, adding five rebounds, two assists, one block and a season-high four steals. Sophomore center Clifford Omoruyi led with nine rebounds in the victory.
Harper, who still remains the Knights’ leading scorer, was plagued with foul trouble all night and finished with 7 points and just one made field goal.
Bryce McGowens was the game’s leading scorer with a season-high 29 points, while his brother Trey McGowens joined him in double-figures with 11 points. Lat Mayen led with eight rebounds and also led with three assists in the program’s 13th loss in 14 games.
Rutgers will remain on the road and travel to face Northwestern on Tuesday. The game will tip off at 7 p.m. and will be broadcasted on the Big Ten Network and 88.7 WRSU-FM.
"It meant a lot. I feel like not only me, but our team has been through a lot of adversity," Mag said. "Our shots weren't falling at the beginning of the game, but we stayed together, stayed connected, and we pulled it out."
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