Rutgers University
Monmouth
Mack Provides MBB Victory at the Buzzer
Dec 28 | Men's Basketball
Box Score
Audio: Chris Carlin call of game-winning shot
West Long Branch, N.J. - Myles Mack hit a buzzer-beating, 19-foot shot to provide Rutgers (8-5) a dramatic 59-58 victory at Monmouth (5-7) on Sunday afternoon. The senior guard led the Scarlet Knights with 16 points in RU's final non-conference contest of the regular season.
Mack's game winner marked the first time Rutgers won via a buzzer-beating shot since Jonathan Mitchell's four-point play on Feb. 9, 2011 helped the Scarlet Knights defeat Villanova, 77-76.
Joining Mack in double figure scoring were Bishop Daniels (12 points) and Kadeem Jack (11 points). The Scarlet Knights shot 24-for-59 (40.7%) from the field, while recording 16 assists and just seven turnovers.
Monmouth came out strong early, opening up leads at 10-5 and 14-7. Rutgers responded with a quick 5-0 run, but the Hawks came right back with five straight points to force a timeout by Eddie Jordan with MU ahead 19-12.
After the timeout, the Scarlet Knights' defense tightened down on the Hawks, and RU used an 8-2 run to cut into the deficit. The Hawks increased its advantage, but Rutgers again responded again with a burst, a 9-1 stretch that was capped with a Mike Williams three-point play to put Rutgers ahead 29-27. The Hawks would close out the frame, and took a slim 31-29 lead into the locker room.
Coming out of the half holding a two-point edge, Monmouth stretched the lead to 36-29. Rutgers had a response, and Daniels twice hit three-pointers to pull the Scarlet Knights within one. However, the Hawks refused to let the lead slip away, and pushed their advantage to 51-45with 7:45 to play.
The game continued tight into the final stretch, with the Hawks grasping at a 55-52 lead at the stanza's final media timeout. Daniels fed Jack for a highlight play, with the senior slamming down the alley-oop to cut the lead to just one. Following a timeout, Mack drained a huge three-pointer, giving Rutgers its first lead of the second half at 57-55 with just under two minutes to play. Monmouth would tie the game at 57 with under a minute left, setting up the theatrical conclusion.
Monmouth set up for their ultimate possession with 20 seconds remaining. Justin Robinson drove towards the hoop and was fouled, giving the Hawks two free throws. Robinson missed the first but made the second, putting Monmouth ahead by one point, 58-57, with 5.6 seconds remaining.
With a timeout to set up a play, Rutgers put the ball in the hands of its senior guard. Mack drove to the left of the arc and released a jumper from just inside the three-point line. As the buzzer sounded, the ball swished through the net, and the Scarlet Knights mobbed Mack at midcourt in celebration of the dramatic victory.
The Scarlet Knights return home to the RAC on Tuesday, where they will open Big Ten Conference play against Northwestern. Tip is at 12 p.m., and the game will be televised live nationally on ESPNU.
Postgame Notes
· Mack's game-winner was the first time Rutgers won via a buzzer-beating shot since Feb. 9, 2011, a 77-76 win over Villanova.
· Mack had four assists. He moved past Damon Santiago for sixth place on Rutgers all-time leadboard, now with 353 for his career.
· Mack scored 16 points, moving ahead of Jeff Greer for 14th place on Rutgers all-time scoring list. He now has 1,408 points.
· Mack led the team in scoring for the sixth time this season, and the 39th time in his career.
· Bishop Daniels had a career-high five assists.
· Daniels scored in double digits for the third time this season.
· Mike Williams had a career-best four rebounds and tied his previous career-high with three assists.
· Junior Etou had six rebounds, leading the squad in rebounding for a team-best seventh time this season.
· Rutgers had three players score in double-digits for the fourth time this season.
· Rutgers now leads Monmouth 9-0 in the all-time series
