Despite a career-high 37 points from freshman guard Dylan Harper, Rutgers Men’s dropped a 95-90 tilt to No. 9 Alabama (6-1) in the second round of the inaugural Players Era Tournament late Wednesday evening in Las Vegas.
The Scarlet Knights (5-2) led 13-10 early on but hit a five-minute scoreless drought. But standout freshman Ace Bailey answered with seven consecutive points, helping Rutgers ultimately go into the locker room tied at 41-all.
The Scarlet Knights managed to slice the deficit to one with 2:30 remaining in the game but failed to take the lead in the end.
Crimson Tide guard Mark Sears took it upon himself to dominate the second half with 18 of his 24 points, along with five assists in the victory.
Furthermore, Rutgers lost the battle of the boards 43-31 and struggled from beyond the arc.
However, the Scarlet Knights did force Alabama to make 20 turnovers. They also did well from the charity stripe, sinking 30-for-35 attempts, with Harper, who suited up for Don Basco Prep High School in N.J., hitting 15 of his 16 shots.
Bailey scored 22 points, while senior captain Jeremiah Williams contributed 10 points and three rebounds, though he fouled out in 15 minutes. Hulking 6-foot-10, 270-pound Nigeria junior Emmanuel Ogbole added nine for Rutgers.
The Crimson Tide will square off against Oregon in the championship match of the tournament on Saturday at 9:30 p.m.
The Scarlet Knights will face Texas A&M in the third-place contest at 2:30 p.m. at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. All Players Era Tournament games will be on the TNT network.
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