Dylan Harper’s Stellar Game Leads Rutgers Hoops to Thrilling Overtime Victory Over Notre Dame

Coming into the 2024-25 season, there were high expectations for Rutgers freshman guard Dylan Harper, who played for Don Bosco Prep (N.J.) basketball team and the NY Rens.

Last night, against Notre Dame, Harper drained 36 points, and his successful free throw with 3.8 seconds left in the game gave the Scarlet Knights the 85-84 victory in the first round of the Player’s Era Tournament Tuesday night at the MGM Grand Arena.

Harper added six rebounds and six assists and shot 12 of 22 from the floor in 39 minutes of action for Rutgers (5-1).

After his remarkable performance, the dynamic guard proved those lofty hopes coming from Rutgers Nation.

The Fighting Irish (4-2) forced overtime after Matt Allocco nailed three straight three-pointers within 30 seconds remaining, the last a step-back contested three, that tied it 84-all with 12.4 seconds to go in the contest. But he missed a three-point attempt in the waning seconds that would have given Notre Dame the win.

Scarlet Knights’ junior guard Jordan Derkack came off the bench and posted 16 points, six rebounds and three assists.  Freshman guard Ace Bailey dropped in ten points and grabbed four rebounds, while grad student Tyson Acuff contributed seven points and led Rutgers with seven rebounds.

The Scarlet Knights face ninth-ranked Alabama tonight at 10:00 p.m. at the MGM Grand Arena.

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— Jerry Del Priore

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