In what may be the final blow to Purdue’s chances of making the NCAA tournament, Rutgers shattered the Boilermakers’ hopes with an overtime win, 71-68.
Like Purdue, Rutgers was looking for a strong finish to the regular season before the Big Ten tournament starts Wed. (March 11) in Indianapolis. With a 10-9 record in the Big Ten entering Saturday’s game, the Scarlets Knights had a one game edge over the Boilermakers (9-10).
"I think this was a big opportunity that we missed out on," said sophomore point guard Eric Hunter Jr. following the game, "especially closing out the regular season trying to get a better seed for the Big Ten tournament."
Purdue (16-15, 9-11 in the Big Ten) is the No. 10 seed in Indianapolis and will play Thursday, March 12th against the No. 7 seed against a team to be determined after Sunday’s results. Unless Purdue wins the Big Ten tournament and the automatic berth to the NCAA tournament that comes with it, Purdue now will most likely miss out of the NCAA tournament.
Missing out on the NCAA tournament would break a streak of six straight years being in the tournament.
Rutgers guard Geo Baker, who finished a team-high 19 points, sealed the game’s scoring on a shot made with 11 seconds left in overtime. A three-point attempt by Evan Boudreaux to send the game to a second overtime was off-target and Rutgers held on for the win at Mackey Arena and ruined Senior Day for Purdue.
Harper Jr. connected on a three-pointer with 1:10 left in OT to give the Scarlet Knights the lead for good.
Baker scored 11 of the Scarlet Knights’ final 13 points in the last six minutes of regulation to help force the overtime. With 2.7 seconds left in regulation, Purdue’s Hunter Jr. missed the second of two free throw attempts that would have put the Boilermakers in a position to win. But Ron Harper Jr. of Rutgers grabbed the rebound on Hunter Jr.’s second missed free throw and the game was tied, 61-61, and headed to overtime.
In a somber moment after the game, Purdue paid tribute to its three seniors Jahaad Proctor, Evan Boudreaux, and fan favorite, former walk-on Tommy Luce.
