Rutgers Season Comes to End in Double-OT Loss to Notre Dame
NOTRE DAME 89 – RUTGERS 87
And so the season ended the way many games had been played this year for the Rutgers Scarlet Knights: down to the wire.
A team that has thrilled its fans for an entire college basketball season, the Scarlet Knights just couldn’t hold off Notre Dame long enough as the Fighting Irish came away with an 89-87 double-overtime victory. The Irish will head to San Diego to face Alabama, Friday afternoon in the Round of 64. Rutgers heads home.
“It was a great game,” senior guard Geo Baker said afterwards, “We came just a little bit short. It was heartbreaking at the end to come up just short after all we’ve been through. That’s March Madness. That’s how it goes down every year and that’s what makes it so special, just tough to come up on the wrong end of it.”
Close games are nothing new for the Scarlet Knights. In fact 13 of their last 16 games were decided by single digits.
For a team that has been in so many dramatic games, Wednesday night’s thriller vs. Notre Dame was no exception.
Thank you, Rutgers Nation for your incredible support all season long. pic.twitter.com/J4xRIsyyUC
— Rutgers Men’s Basketball 🏀 (@RutgersMBB) March 17, 2022
The first overtime saw six lead changes, with Rutgers grabbing hold of a 79-77 lead with just eight seconds left when Paul Mulcahy nailed a three pointer to put Rutgers out front. Notre Dame quickly moved the ball down court before Blake Wesley tied the game on a jump-shot inside in the paint to force the second OT.
THIS. SEQUENCE! 🔥
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 17, 2022
We’re heading to DOUBLE OT in Dayton. #MarchMadness@NDmbb @RutgersMBB pic.twitter.com/smN70n9BQ7
Like in the first overtime, Rutgers had the lead, this time twice. A slam dunk by Clfford Omoruyi gave RU an early 81-79 lead out of the gate. Notre Dame would quickly tie it on Prentiss Hubb’s jumper only 28 seconds later.
Rutgers eventually grabbed the lead right back when Caleb McConnell posted up a three-pointer to hand Rutgers a one-point lead with 1:37 to go. 0:97 seconds separated Rutgers from its second NCAA Tournament victory in consecutive seasons.
Instead Paul Atkinson Jr. nailed a jumper about 16 seconds later to give the Irish an 85-84 lead. After a pair of free throws by Hubb made it a three-point game, Ron Harper, as he has done all season for Rutgers, came up with the big clutch shot in the final moments. A three-pointer tied it up at 87 with :22 seconds to go.
All RU needed was a stop. And for a second it looked like they would get it as Blake Wesley missed his shot, but a rebound and tip in by Atkinson as the clock expired was all the Irish needed to pull out the victory.
𝙏𝙝𝙞𝙨 how you celebrate St. Patrick's Day ☘️#GoIrish | #MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/nfGHOUiNp9
— Notre Dame Men's Basketball (@NDmbb) March 17, 2022
“Tip of the hat to Notre Dame, they were one possession better. But this group has been unbelievable for three years, I wish it would never end,” Rutgers head coach Steve Pikiell said, “They’ve given everything to our program, I just wish it would never end. Just a tough end, tough night. I appreciate our guys, what they’ve given to our program. It’s not easy, all season, backs against the wall, and they’ve done nothing but respond. These guys have built a terrific culture here.”
Caleb McConnell finished the game leading Rutgers with 23 points and 11 rebounds for the double-double. Ron Harper Jr. had 22 points; Geo Baker had 19 points; Clifford Omoruyi had 15 points, and Paul Mulcahy had eight points in defeat.
Rutgers finished the season at 18-14.

DAYTON, OHIO – MARCH 16: Prentiss Hubb #3 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish attempts to shoot the ball past Paul Mulcahy #4 of the Rutgers Scarlet Knights in the second overtime period of the game during the First Four game of the 2022 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at UD Arena on March 16, 2022 in Dayton, Ohio. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)

DAYTON, OHIO – MARCH 16: Ron Harper Jr. #24 of the Rutgers Scarlet Knights dunks the ball in the second half of the game against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish during the First Four game of the 2022 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at UD Arena on March 16, 2022 in Dayton, Ohio. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

DAYTON, OHIO – MARCH 16: Clifford Omoruyi #11 of the Rutgers Scarlet Knights and Blake Wesley #0 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish reach for a loose ball in the overtime period of the game during the First Four game of the 2022 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at UD Arena on March 16, 2022 in Dayton, Ohio. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

DAYTON, OHIO – MARCH 16: Head coach Steve Pikiell of the Rutgers Scarlet Knights reacts on the sidelines in the second half of the game against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights during the First Four game of the 2022 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at UD Arena on March 16, 2022 in Dayton, Ohio. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)