INDIANAPOLIS, IN -- No. 11 Rutgers has been eliminated in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament after a 97-89 double overtime defeat to No. 14 USC Wednesday evening.

RU entered the first media timeout squared up at 7-7, but costly turnovers combined with a 13-2 USC run gave the Trojans a 12-point advantage with under eight minutes to play in the first half. Rutgers went on a run, but ultimately entered the break trailing 41-30.

It was a tale of two halves for the Scarlet Knights. Seven Trojan turnovers over the course of three minutes allowed RU to crawl back. Rutgers went on a 15-2 run to make it a one-point game. 

Freshman guard Dylan Harper led the way down the stretch and concluded his freshman campaign by scoring 13 of his team-high 27 points in the second half of regulation. He totaled eight assists, eight rebounds, two blocks, and two steals. This marked Harper's 17th game of the season reaching 20-plus points - second most of any Big Ten freshmen in the last 20 seasons (Eric Gordon, 19, 2007-08).

Fellow freshman guard Ace Bailey scored 17 points, seven rebounds, and a career-high three steals before fouling out with a few minutes left in regulation. He passed Mike Rosario for second on Rutgers' all-time freshman scoring list. Harper holds the top spot with 564.

USC outscored Rutgers 16-8 in double overtime. Desmond Claude, Wesley Yates, and Rashaun Agee combined for 75 of the team's 97 points (77 percent).

Freshman Lathan Sommerville and grad student Tyson Acuff each contributed 16 points off the bench, helping RU outscore the USC bench 32-5. Rutgers' freshmen accounted for 67 of its 89 points (75 percent).

It was a one or two-possession game for the final 15 minutes prior to overtime. There were seven lead changes and 11 ties throughout the match. 

Rutgers forced 21 turnovers and scored 31 points off those cough-ups. It was the most turnovers forced in a Big Ten Tournament game in program history.

Unless Rutgers receives an invitation to The Crown or NIT tournament, the 2024-25 season has come to an end.
 

Postgame Notes

Team Notes

• Rutgers forced 21 USC turnovers, second most of any RU opponent this season and second most turnovers forced in a Big Ten game in program history
• Rutgers played its second consecutive overtime game and fourth this season, taking its first loss beyond regulation
• Rutgers played its first double overtime game since the 2022 NCAA First Four against Notre Dame

• With 564 points this season, he moved into 17th on RU's all-time single season scoring list
• Had his 17th game this season with at least 20 points, second most of any Big Ten freshmen in the last 20 seasons (Eric Gordon, 19, 2007-08)
• It was his second most assists in a Big Ten game this year – with his Big Ten high also coming against USC (9 on Feb. 23).
• He is 20th on RU's single-season free throws made list (126)
• In two games against USC, Harper averaged 26 points and 8.5 Assists
• It was only the second Big Ten game since 2005 where a freshman had at least 27 points, 8 rebounds and 8 assists. The other was Rutgers' Corey Sanders in 2016 vs. Illinois
• The last D-1 freshman to reach 27 points, 8 rebounds and 8 assists in a D-1 game was Oklahoma's Trae Young in 2018 vs. Oklahoma State

• With 17 points, he moved into second place on RU's all-time freshman scoring list, passing Mike Rosario (527 points). Dylan Harper continues to hold the record (564
  • Bailey is 22nd on RU's all-time single season scoring list.
• Bailey had a career-high three steals

• Scored 16 points, his second most of his career
• Was 4-of-5 at the free throw line, snapping a streak of 28 consecutive free throws made dating back to Feb. 16
• Shooting 89.1% overall (82-of-95) at the free throw line this season. That currently stands sixth best in a single season in school history.