2/27/2023 basketball Edit

How Rutgers completed a historic comeback against Penn State

Chris Nalwasky • TheKnightReport

Beat Writer

Rutgers 59, Penn State 56.

That was the final score in Sunday night’s basketball game between the two programs at the Bryce Jordan Center.

The Nittany Lions led the game by 19 points early in the second half and by 17 points in the back portion of the first. The comeback for Rutgers (18-11, 10-8) is its biggest since coming back from 20 down against Pittsburgh in 1996.

How did it happen? Let’s break it down below. But first, let’s take a look at how Rutgers got there to begin with.

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The Rutgers offense struggled mightily to begin the game. Rutgers shot 4-for-21 and 6-for-28 in the first half. It was a continuation of the last few outings against Michigan, Wisconsin, Nebraska, and Illinois where it couldn’t put the ball in the basket.

Rutgers shot 27.3% in the opening 20 minutes while Penn State shot 48.1%. The Scarlet Knights also battled the officials at times which didn’t make things any easier. Penn State even came out of the gates hot after the break to build a 19-point lead. Paul Mulcahy also fouled out and didn’t score on 0-of-6 attempts, and Aundre Hyatt was a no-show again with just three points (1-of-6) and four minutes in the second half.

Rutgers was dead in the water, but it was able to swim up to the top and get out to shore and then some. It was a team effort.

"Our bench was terrific. Derek (Simpson) came in and certainly did not play like a freshman," Rutgers head coach Steve Pikiell said. "He got us going and we hung around. I like this team a lot. They have been great all year. We fought through foul trouble, and I thought we had some decent looks. We just stayed the course and I'm proud of our guys. Our defense was key down the stretch, and we made some timely plays too. To be able to make a comeback like this on the road is a really good sign".

DEREK SIMPSON

Similarly to when Rutgers defeated Indiana back in December, Simpson broke out, played hero, and stepped up when the team needed it most. Simpson provided a spark for Rutgers off the bench scoring nine of Rutgers last 12 points in the first half to cut it to 31-21, highlighted by a tough layup with the clock winding down before halftime.

In the second half, Simpson, who has major burst and speed, scored another seven points. He got to the rim and forced the defense to collapse. Simpson used a screen from Cliff Omoruyi to get the hoop to tie the game at 56-56, and then hit the ensuing foul shot to go up 57-56. That was Rutgers’ first lead since 5-4.

The Scarlet Knights were at their best when Simpson was running the show and out on the court.

"Oh, man, I didn't know Derek was a freshman tonight," Fifth-year forward Caleb McConnell said. "Derek was awesome tonight. We got him going. He found a hot hand. Derek got downhill and just created plays and then he just made it happen as well. That's something that Derek has been doing all season and it was just a matter of time."

TIMELY THREES

As Rutgers was slowly climbing back into the game, Oskar Palmquist drained two 3-pointers as part of a 9-0 run. Palmquist played 19 minutes and was one of the few players to have a positive plus/minus on the team in the team at plus-four.

Palmquist was thrusted into the starting lineup/playing more minutes off the bench with Mawot Mag out (and when Caleb McConnell missed a game recently), and he’s been serviceable. He also held his own defensively.

"Talk about a guy who's stayed ready and stayed the course, he's really giving us some fire off the bench. We had to change our rotation, but we also needed new bench production and Oskar has been tremendous. I'm really proud of him, it's not easy when you're not playing a lot and you have to keep fighting. He's poised out there and we need him to continue that."

BACKUP BIG

Depending on matchups, either Dean Reiber or Antwone Woolfolk has come into games this season as the backup center. Woolfolk was the one tonight. He played just eight minutes and was minus-9, but he had a good hedge and almost a steal at one point. Woolfolk set screens to free Simpson, and defended well in the post as well.

"I want to give a big shout out to Cliff (Omoruyi) and Antwone," Simpson said. "They were setting me really good screens and got me open, but I thought the guys really stayed together. We didn't have those blank looks on our face the whole game, we pulled it out and I'm really thankful for our guys".

DEFENSE

Ok, this took long enough to get here. In order for a team to mount a major comeback, it not only has to score, it has to string together stops, too.

Penn State was held without a field goal the last 9:16 of the second half (0-of-14 field goals). Penn State scored only three points on three foul shots in that stretch. Rutgers found some juice and started slapping the floor at least three times. That can sometimes come back to bite you, but Rutgers held tough.

“That’s our culture," McConnell said. "When our back is against the wall, we stick together, we show grit, we grind, and that’s how we’re able to do things like this. When we do us, we get us results.”

In the last 11 seconds, the Nittany Lions missed two 3-pointers with hands in their face, and then Cam Spencer stripped the ball from Seth Lundy which Palmquist came up with. McConnell kept his former high school teammate, Jalen Pickett, to no shots in the second half. Pickett averages 18 points, seven assists, and seven rebounds per game. McConnell helped force a travel by Pickett with 21 seconds to go.

"Caleb is always willing to play the best player on the other team," Pikiell said. "He embraces that role. Very few guys do that. That’s what makes him special. He’s been in the training room for about the last 48 hours. To do what he did tonight, with the back that he has right now, was just really amazing.”

KEY REBOUND

Omoruyi had 13 rebounds (and nine points) in the game but just two offensive rebounds. His biggest came with 32 seconds remaining. Omoruyi grabbed the ball with two hands and put it up for a second chance basket to put Rutgers ahead 59-56 which wound up being the final margin.

Omoruyi missed a dunk in transition, but he was able to come up in a big spot when needed.

"These guys are winners. They’ve been through this. They know rigors of this league," Pikiell said. "I don’t think people really realize how hard it is, traveling and doing the things these guys are doing on a daily basis. You can’t play well every night, even though that’s what’s expected. But they continue to fight through it. These guys have been through a lot. I trust them."

What else did Rutgers do to turn the game around? Drop a line on the message board.