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Rutgers Stuns Clemson, Advances to Round of 32

 RUTGERS 60 - CLEMSON 56

It was 30 years in the making, and for the loyal followers, boosters and alumni of Rutgers University it was well worth the wait. The Scarlett Knights stunned the Tigers of Clemson University 60-56 at the close of the first night of the NCAA Men's Basketball tournament. 

The Scarlett Knights will play Houston on Sunday. It is the first victory by a Rutgers men's team in the tournament in over 38 years.   

Four players were in double figures for Rutgers on Friday night, including 13 points a piece from Geo Baker, Jacob Young and Caleb McConnell, who poured down 13 off the bench. Ron Harper Jr. dropped 10 points on the night for Rutgers. 

The Scarlet Knights set the tone early when Baker nailed a three pointer to open the scoring at 3-0. From there on out it was a tit-for-tat between Rutgers and Clemson as the two schools traded the lead eight times in the first half. 

Give Rutgers credit they hung in when things looked their bleakest. After holding a 5-3 lead, Rutgers went cold offensively, as Clemson ran off a 9-2 run to take a 12-7 lead with 12:47 in the first half. Harper's dunk with 12:26 to go in the first half, cut the deficit to three and gave the Scarlett Knights some momentum back. 

After Caleb McConnell's layup gave Rutgers a 13-12 lead, the Scarlett Knights fell behind again when Clemson's Hunter Tyson nailed a three to make it 15-13 Clemson.

It would remain a close Clemson lead really deep into the second half, that was until Jacob Young hit a three for Rutgers that gave the Scarlett Knights a 39-37 advantage with 13:20 to go in regulation. 

After Harper hit a couple of free throws, a Clemson turnover led to a layup by Young to give Rutgers its largest lead at 43-37. 

Suddenly Clemson's shooters went cold. They missed four consecutive shots, and failed to defend their end of the floor as Rutgers found rebounding opportunities. McConnell's three with 9:37 to go gave Rutgers a 50-39 edge, and made it apparent that we would be in for a major upset. 

Still Clemson fought back. A 10-0 run cut the Rutgers lead to one, until Young connected on another three to make it 53-49. Later, Caleb McConnell's dunk with 4:26 to go extended the Rutgers lead back out to three at 55-52.

Still Clemson wouldn't go away. They would tie it at 55 on a bucket and free throw by Clyde Trapp. However Geo Baker's dagger with 3:48 to go proved to be the final nail Rutgers needed to lock down the victory. Clemson had no answer down the stretch, and a horrible decision to not foul Rutgers in the waning seconds proved costly as RU walked off winners.

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