{{pageModel.leagueAbbr}} {{pageModel.subtitle}} | Las Vegas Review-Journal
National Basketball Association
BOXSCORE | RECAP
Rutgers 60, Clemson 56
When: 9:20 PM ET, Friday, March 19, 2021
Where: Bankers Life Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, Indiana
Officials: # Terry Wymer, # Jeb Hartness, # Marques Pettigrew
Attendance: N/A

Geo Baker, Caleb McConnell and Jacob Young each scored 13 points to lead 10th-seeded Rutgers past seventh-seeded Clemson 60-56 Friday night in a first-round NCAA Tournament Midwest Region game at Indianapolis.

Baker made a 3-pointer with 3:49 remaining to break a 55-55 tie and give Rutgers the lead for good. He added a clinching layup with 20 seconds left as the Scarlet Knights (16-11) moved into a second-round game against second-seeded Houston, which defeated 15th-seeded Cleveland State 87-56 earlier Friday.

Rutgers, playing in its first NCAA Tournament in 30 years, earned its first NCAA tourney victory in 38 years.

Ron Harper Jr., the Scarlet Knights' leading scorer, had 10 points while Myles Johnson and McConnell grabbed 10 rebounds apiece.

Aamir Simms led Clemson (16-8) with 15 points and 11 rebounds while Clyde Trapp had 14 points and Hunter Tyson scored 10.

Clemson was on top by as many as five points early in the game, but the lead changed hands seven times before the Tigers settled for a 26-23 edge at the half on Trapp's layup at the buzzer.

Trapp scored nine consecutive points for the Tigers at the outset of the second half as Clemson built a 35-32 lead with 15:14 left.

Rutgers responded in a big way and grabbed an 11-point lead on a 3-pointer by McConnell with 9:30 to play. But the Tigers mounted a scoring surge of their own, going on a 10-0 run to pull within 50-49 on a Chase Hunter jumper, then tying the game at 55 on a three-point play by Trapp with 4:12 left.

Clemson managed just one point in the game's last 3 1/2 minutes.

Rutgers shot 39.7 percent from the floor while the Tigers shot 35.6 percent. The Scarlet Knights also outrebounded Clemson by a 41-32 margin.

--Field Level Media

Top Game Performances
 
Rutgers   Clemson
Geo Baker 13 Scoring Aamir Simms 15
Paul Mulcahy 4 Assists Al-Amir Dawes 3
Myles Johnson 10 Rebounds Aamir Simms 11
Ron Harper Jr. 4 Free Throws Made Aamir Simms 5
Myles Johnson 3 Steals Hunter Tyson 2
Myles Johnson 3 Blocks Jonathan Baehre 1
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Points FG% 3PM-3PA FTM-FTA Assists Rebounds Blocks Steals Turnovers
Rutgers 60 39.7 8-30 6-9 11 36 5 6 14
Clemson 56 35.6 6-19 8-9 14 26 3 6 11