SETON HALL 45 – RUTGERS 43
The 73rd edition of the Garden State Hardwood Classic went the way of Seton Hall to the tune of 45-43 as KC Ndefo had the game winning bucket with 1:54 to go in the game. Rutgers had multiple chances to either tie or take the lead, but couldn’t get one to fall. Overall, Rutgers made just three of its final seven shots over the final 14 minutes of the contest. For his efforts in hitting the game winner, Ndefo earned the Joe Calabrese MVP for Seton Hall.
The loss drops Rutgers to 6-4 on the season. The Scarlet Knights have lost two straight by a combined three points.
“Obviously, (I’m) most disappointed in the 19 turnovers. I thought, you know, we really gave up points because of our turnovers. We could have won this game 40 to 38. Some nights, the ball’s not going. I thought we got some good looks, even at the end a couple decent looks to tie the game back up. The ball wasn’t going in. We didn’t play with the right energy that we needed to in a game like this,” Head Coach Steve Pikiell told reporters afterwards.
Rutgers shot only 32 percent from the field, 27 percent in the second half alone. For the first time this season, not a single Rutgers player scored double-figures with Aundre Hyatt recording the most points with nine.
Dre Davis led Seton Hall with 10 points in the victory.
Rutgers will have a week to think about it before their next game Saturday at noon against Wake Forest at Jersey Mike’s Arena.
Seton Hall improved to 6-4 with the victory, and will host Drexel on Wednesday in Newark.
