Field Level Media
Jan 24, 2021
Geo Baker scored 19 points to help Rutgers snap a five-game losing streak with a 74-70 win over Indiana on Sunday in Bloomington, Ind.
Ron Harper Jr. added 15 points and 12 rebounds for the Scarlet Knights (8-6, 4-6 Big Ten), who picked up their first-ever win at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall. Rutgers is 1-3 all-time in the building.
Rutgers led by as many as 14 points in the second half before holding off a late Indiana comeback.
Trayce Jackson-Davis made a pair of free throws for Indiana to cut the Rutgers lead to 73-70 with 43.7 seconds left, but Myles Johnson came up with a big offensive rebound off a missed shot from Harper with 14 seconds remaining. Baker was then fouled and made 1 of 2 free throws to seal the win.
Armaan Franklin led Indiana (9-7, 4-5) with 14 points, with Jackson-Davis adding 13 points and Race Thompson chipping in with 11. The Hoosiers dropped to 4-3 at home on the season and 2-3 at home in Big Ten games.
Rutgers was tough protecting the rim throughout the game with seven blocked shots and eight steals. The Scarlet Knights scored 14 points off turnovers.
Rutgers made a change to its starting lineup, sitting Jacob Young and Montez Mathis in favor of Paul Mulcahy and Caleb McConnell. The move sparked the Scarlet Knights, as Rutgers made 9 of its first 15 from the floor to build an early 22-16 lead.
Indiana answered with a 10-2 run, taking a 26-24 lead on an inside basket from Thompson. But Baker put Rutgers back up 27-26 with a 3-pointer and the Scarlet Knights closed the half strong. After a Rob Phinisee steal and layup tied the score at 31, Rutgers closed the half with a 7-2 run, with a McConnell putback at the first half buzzer putting the Scarlet Knights up 38-33 at halftime.
Rutgers shot 59.3 percent from the field in the first half, compared to 44.4 percent shooting for Indiana.
--Field Level Media