Last-second swat secures Rutgers’ Big Ten win over Northwestern
Tariq Francis tossed in 30 points and Darren Buchanan Jr. finished with 14 points and 10 rebounds to lead Rutgers to a 77-75 Big Ten overtime victory over Northwestern on Sunday in Piscataway, N.J.
Northwestern trailed by two after Buchanan missed a free-throw attempt with eight seconds to play in overtime, but Buchanan wiped Jake West's driving layup off the glass with one second left to clinch the win.
Northwestern forward Nick Martinelli had a career-high 34 points to move past Tarleton State's Dior Johnson to become the nation's leading scorer at 24.1 points per game. He also grabbed a game-high 12 rebounds.
Arrinten Page added 14 points and six rebounds off the bench for the Wildcats (8-8, 0-5 Big Ten), who extended their losing streak to three games.
Jamichael Davis added 10 points, five rebounds and four assists before fouling out for Rutgers (9-8, 2-4 Big Ten). The Scarlet Knights began the game at the bottom of the Big Ten in scoring (69.3 points per game).
Northwestern, which entered the game ranked last among Big Ten teams in 3-point field goal percentage (30.8), was 26 of 63 from the floor. The Wildcats went just 2 of 9 from the field and 4 of 9 at the free-throw line in overtime. They finished 6 of 18 from 3-point territory.
Northwestern built a 12-point lead in the first half, but Rutgers closed the half on a 10-2 run to pull within 35-33 at halftime. Martinelli led all scorers with 15 points.
Rutgers claimed its first lead of the game when an Emmanuel Ogbole dunk made it 42-41with 15:36 to play, but a 7-0 spurt by Northwestern regained a 52-47 advantage.
The Scarlet Knights took a 66-65 lead on two Francis free throws with 39 seconds left in regulation. A Martinelli basket from the baseline put the Wildcats up 67-66, but Buchanan made one of two free-throw attempts with two seconds left to send the game to overtime.
Rutgers, which held the lead for just 5:01, finished with a 47-40 edge in rebounds.