Christmas may be right around the corner, but it was anything but a Silent Night in Piscataway as Rutgers hit a buzzer-beater to seal a dramatic 70–69 win over Penn.
Five days before Christmas, the Scarlet Knights hosted the Quakers at Jersey Mike’s Arena. Penn entered the matchup at 6–4 and sitting third in the Ivy League standings, while Rutgers looked to find its rhythm against a disciplined opponent.
Rutgers started slowly for much of the first half. Struggling to get clean looks and having issues on the glass, the Scarlet Knights played from behind heading toward halftime. A three-pointer from Harun Zrno midway through the first half finally sparked some life and some momentum for RU.
The second half told a different story.
RU opened the half, knocking down a few key baskets, slowly climbing back from what had been a double-digit deficit for most of the game. A pair of clutch free throws from Dylan Grant and a layup from Tariq Francis tied things up at 39–39, giving the Scarlet Knights a much-needed edge.
Another layup from Grant, this time off an assist from Buchanan, woke Rutgers up and added fuel to a fire that was about to get hot. But Penn wasn’t going anywhere. The Quakers answered with free throws of their own, keeping the game tight and constantly nipping at Rutgers’ heels.
The final 10 minutes turned into a back-and-forth battle, with both teams trading baskets and the lead down the stretch.
With just under three minutes remaining, Penn’s Zanoni knocked down a three to put the Quakers back on top. Rutgers continued to struggle rebounding late, but a successful challenge swung possession back in their favor with just over a minute left in regulation.
At 68–67, with under 30 seconds to go, we had ourselves a ball game!
Francis delivered the dagger. A buzzer-beater with nine seconds remaining to give Rutgers the lead and ultimately the win, as Penn’s desperation half-court attempt fell short.
Francis finished the night with a career-high 34 points, shooting 9-of-14 from the field and converting 15-of-19 free throws. He also added two steals and logged a team-high 28 minutes in a standout performance.
The victory marked Rutgers’ first win over Penn since 1975. The Scarlet Knights will look to build on that momentum when they host Delaware State on Monday, December 29
