Geo Baker hit a tiebreaking 3-pointer with one second remaining as No. 24 Rutgers survived blowing a 14-point lead and remained unbeaten at home with a dramatic 75-72 Big Ten victory over Nebraska on Saturday afternoon in Piscataway, N.J.
Playing their second game as a ranked team for the first time since the end of the 1978-79 season, the Scarlet Knights (15-5, 6-3) likely ensured they will stay ranked by ending the game with nine straight points to improve to 14-0 at home.
Baker had an earlier chance to break the 72-72 tie but his 3-point try with 17 seconds left was short. Akwasi Yeboah got the offensive rebound and quickly moved the ball to Baker, who was well behind the 3-point line.
Baker took about five dribbles, then released the shot from the left side over Cam Mack, sending the fans into a frenzy. Nebraska had one more possession but the game ended before the Cornhuskers could get a shot off.
Yeboah led the Scarlet Knights with a season-high 20 points and hit a clutch 3-pointer with 2:07 remaining that forged the 72-72 deadlock.
Caleb McConnell and Jacob Young added 12 points apiece for Rutgers, which shot 45.2 percent and completed its first sweep of a conference opponent since entering the Big Ten in 2014-15. Montez Mathis added 10 points while Myles Johnson collected nine points, 11 rebounds and a career-high five blocks.
Mack led Nebraska with 16 of his 19 points after halftime but the Cornhuskers (7-13, 2-7) saw their losing streak reach a season-high five games. Thorir Thorbjarnarson added 17 and matched a career-high with five 3-pointers as Nebraska shot 41.9 percent overall and made 11 3-pointers.
Earlier in the game, Rutgers appeared poised to cruise to a double-digit win.
Rutgers opened the second half on a 13-5 run and expanded its lead to 55-41 on a jumper by Johnson with 14:36 remaining. But Nebraska climbed to within 62-61 on a floater by Mack with 8:41 left and took a 63-62 lead on two free throws by Charlie Easley with 7:49 remaining.
Nebraska expanded its lead to 67-62 on a bucket by Thorbjarnarson with 6:25 remaining and held a 72-66 lead on Mack's jumper with 3:09 remaining.
--Field Level Media
Nebraska | Rutgers | |
Cameron Mack 19 | Scoring | Akwasi Yeboah 20 |
Dachon Burke Jr. 5 | Assists | Ron Harper Jr. 4 |
Thorir Thorbjarnarson 8 | Rebounds | Myles Johnson 11 |
Haanif Cheatham 4 | Free Throws Made | Akwasi Yeboah 5 |
Jervay Green 2 | Steals | Caleb McConnell 2 |
Cameron Mack 1 | Blocks | Myles Johnson 5 |