Rutgers ends 87-year winless streak against Michigan

Jan 4, 2022, 09:29 pm

PISCATAWAY, N.J. -- — Geo Baker scored 27 points on 10-for-15 shooting and Ron Harper Jr. scored 20 and Rutgers beat depleted Michigan 75-67 on Tuesday night.

It was Rutgers' first win against the Wolverines in 15-game series that began Dec. 20, 1933.

Michigan played without reserves Frankie Collins, Jaron Faulds, Brandon Johns Jr., and Terrance Williams II due to undisclosed medical reasons. Zeb Jackson didn't make the trip due to personal reasons.

Rutgers finished with a season-high 11 3-pointers. The Scarlet Knights entered averaging the fewest number of made 3-pointers in the Big Ten Conference at five per game. Rutgers (8-5, 2-1) was 11-for-23 overall.

Baker and Harper made 17 of the team's 27 field goals. Clifford Omoruyi grabbed 12 rebounds and Paul Mulcahy distributed seven assists.

Hunter Dickinson scored 25 points for Michigan (7-6, 1-2), Moussa Diabate 15, Caleb Houstan 12 and Eli Brooks 11.

Rutgers owned a nine-point halftime lead and started the second half outscoring the Wolverines 14-6 run in a 6:47 span for a 53-36 advantage.

Harper and Mulcahy each started Rutgers with a pair of 3s and the Scarlet Knights extended the lead to 19-8 with 13:18 before intermission on another 3 from Mulcahy.

Clifford Omoruy threw down a dunk to give Rutgers its biggest lead of the first half at 35-19 with 4:51 before halftime. Michigan proceeded to responded with an 11-4 spurt to draw within 39-30.

Michigan is scheduled to host 10th-ranked Michigan State on Saturday.

The Scarlet Knights will entertain Nebraska Saturday.

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