It was fitting, maybe even poetic. Of course Rutgers didn’t make it easy. Of course the Scarlet Knights had to rely on their grit and a last-second defensive stand that nearly gave their fans a heart attack.
It’s that attribute that has turned Rutgers into a March contender these past three years. On Senior Day for program linchpins Geo Baker, Caleb McConnell and Ron Harper Jr., blowing out an opponent wouldn’t feel right.
“What else did you guys expect?” Baker told the adoring and sold-out Jersey Mike’s Arena crowd afterward.
Defending the life out of an opponent, making key plays down the stretch in a tight game they had to have felt like a perfect end to their home script, a heart-pounding 59-58 victory over playing-out-the-string Penn State that likely locks up Rutgers’ second straight NCAA Tournament bid.
After Paul Mulcahy threw the ball away in the final seconds, Baker wouldn’t let Sam Sessoms by him, forcing him into a difficult fadeaway at the horn that wasn’t close. Rutgers (18-12, 12-8 Big Ten) survived, ensuring itself of either the No. 4 or No. 5 seed in the upcoming Big Ten Tournament depending on the result Sunday night of Iowa-Illinois.
No matter what happens from here on out, Baker, McConnell and Harper will be remembered for bringing Rutgers basketball back. It is expected to reach a second straight NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1975-76, and it would be three in a row if not for the COVID-19 pandemic that canceled the 2020 big dance.
“I’m almost envious,” Penn State coach Micah Shrewsberry said. “My hope for one day is to make Penn State the same exact way. [Rutgers coach Steve Pikiell] found guys that fit him, he found tough individuals who wanted to play the right way, his style, make plays and defend people and do something special at a place.”
Told of those comments, Baker paused and smiled.
“When we first came here, I don’t think anyone was trying to play like Rutgers,” he said.
The program-record 12th Big Ten victory was at times ugly. Rutgers left plenty of points on the court. It didn’t put away the Nittany Lions despite several opportunities. But the Scarlet Knights found a way, as they have so often over the last three years, in part because they held Penn State to 32 percent shooting from the field.
Over the first eight minutes, Pikiell’s team forced three shot-clock violations. It forced another after the under-four minute timeout after Penn State had cut a 15-point deficit down to seven.
After the Nittany Lions pulled even on the strength of a 19-6 run with 2:00 left, Harper sank one of two free throws to give Rutgers the lead back for good. Harper (15 points) then drew an offensive foul on Seth Lundy (17 points) and Sessoms missed a contested jumper. McConnell hit two free throws on the other end with 31.4 seconds left, pushing the lead to three. Baker, after digging out the rebound of a Greg Lee miss, hit one more at the line, and had the defensive stand in the final seconds on Sessoms.
“I was screaming, I hope the cameras weren’t on my face,” said Baker, who had six points and five assists. “I was saying some stuff. A lot of emotions coming out when I saw that shot not go down.”
It was an emotional day, that’s for sure. Pikiell admitted to having trouble keeping himself composed at the start, that’s how much this core group has meant to him. They came to Rutgers before any of the winning began, and they made it a much more popular destination.
“I’m thankful I got guys that wanted to stay,” Pikiell said. “I’m most proud of them that they stayed and continued to build this program the right way.”