Rutgers rock number one seed with huge upset
DIVISION I of the NCAA saw a massive boilover on Tuesday night, with the number one ranked side in Purdue stunned by Rutgers for the second time in two seasons.
In a thrilling contest, a three-pointer with 13 seconds on the clock ended up being the deciding factor with Purdue unable to answer in the dying stages of the game, as a feeling of deja vu seeped in for the nation’s highest ranked side.
Cam Spencer was the hero for Rutgers in the remarkable road victory, nailing the clutch three in the last seconds of the match to give his side the lead. Despite the weight that came with such a big shot, he carefully remained composed and put his side ahead to claim a 65-64 victory in enemy territory.
Paul Mulcahy led the scoring for the winning side with 16 points to go with eight rebounds and six assists in a terrific all-around performance. Spencer was not far behind with 14 points of his own, and the biggest shot of the game.
On the other hand, Zach Edey led the way for Purdue in a losing effort, overcoming some early foul trouble to deliver the best statline of the match with 19 points and 10 rebounds. Had Spencer’s shot not fallen, Edey would have been the star of the show.
Rutgers looked dangerous early, and took complete control of the match in the first half. The visitors simply knocked down their shots when they got open looks, and took a 10-point lead into halftime.
However, the best team in the United States fought back in the second half, firing offensively after a quiet first half. The shots began to fall and the deficit was quickly erased as the hosts took the momentum of the match. They led with less than a minute on the clock, but missed two chances to steal victory following Spencer’s shot.
Despite the loss, the head coach of Purdue had nothing but praise for his opponents post-game.
“We know what’s coming. What Rutgers did tonight didn’t shock us,” Purdue coach Matt Painter said. “If we were going to war, we’d stop by New Jersey and pick them up.”
Rutgers coach Steve Pikiell said he knew what was expected of his side in order to snatch an impressive victory.
“You need everybody on the roster to win a game like this on the road,” Pikiell said. “And everybody was ready to chip in.”
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