Dylan Harper’s Heroics Lift Rutgers in Thriller vs. Pirates
Dylan Harper picked a great time to have his signature moment for Rutgers.
The freshman guard etched his name into Rutgers basketball history after nailing a game-winning buzzer beater on Saturday night in Piscataway to life the Scarlet Knights over their in-state rivals, the Seton Hall Pirates 66-63 at Jersey Mike’s Arena.
The thrilling victory brought back memories from three years ago when Dylan’s big brother, Ron Harper Jr. nailed the game winner shot against No. 1 Purdue to lift Rutgers at Jersey Mike’s. That victory parlayed Rutgers en route to a trip to the NCAA Tournament. Perhaps this victory will have the same effect.
“It means a lot,” Harper told the press afterwards. “From watching my brother play his tough rivalry games. He always played his heart out. I just wanted to come out here and play. Coach Pikiell told us all this would be a serious game. We have to come out here and play Rutgers Basketball because this is real rivalry. We could have played better but the important thing is that we won.”
And win they did. With 6.4 seconds to go and the game tied at 63, Harper brought the ball down court, stopped at the Jersey Mike’s logo, and took a long range shot, and sank it as time expired. Harper was quickly swarmed by his teammates, as Rutgers fans went into full-scale celebration.
“We are growing. This team has been tough and resilient,” Head Coach Steve Pikiell said of his club.
It wasn’t an easy night for Rutgers. Far from it. The Scarlet Knights found themselves down six at the break, and trailed by as much as 10-points less than four minutes into the second half.
That’s when Harper and fellow freshman Ace Bailey took over. Combined they scored 45 of Rutgers’ 66 points in the second half. Harper, himself, scored 18 of his 24 points after the break. For the game, Harper (24 points) and Bailey (21 points) were the only two Rutgers players in double figures.
Jordan Derkack also played a leading role in the come-from-behind victory, adding nine points on 5-of-6 shooting from the charity stripe. His four free-throw shots in the middle of the second half, pulled Rutgers to within a point of the Pirates, 45-44.
Harper then put Rutgers in front twice, first on a lay up with 10:48 to go, and then on a three-pointer with 9:17 to go in regulation.
Give credit to the Pirates for not giving in either. Isiah Coleman was a force to be reckoned with in the second half. He finished with 15 points, including a perfect 4-for-4 from the free throw line.
In fact it was Coleman who tied the game on a pair of free throws before Harper won it with his last second heroics.
The victory was the 33rd win for Rutgers over Seton Hall in the history of the rivalry. Rutgers has won four of the last seven vs. Seton Hall, and earned its first win at home vs. the Pirates since 2019. It was also Rutgers second straight win against Seton Hall dating back to last year’s match-up at the Prudential Center.
Next Up:
Rutgers (7-4) will face another in-state rival in their next match-up on Saturday at the Prudential Center, against Princeton.
