Rutgers Breaks Seton Hall's Heart in OT, 77-72

Jordan Theodore won't be getting any girls tonight.

In an intense game--possibly one of the best of the rivarly--Theodore missed a three to tie with under 5 seconds left in overtime. Just seconds before that Jerome Seagears buried a three of his own to give the Scarlet Knights the lead for good. A back and forth battle, one that had everyone on both sides on the edge of their seats.

And now, Rutgers gets off the schneid and the Seton Hall Pirates have to bite their nails in regards to getting into the NCAA Tournament.

More after the jump...

Dane Miller showed up to play today. He finished with a double-double (21 and 10) and really took over the second half. He dunked, he hit threes, he made lay-ups (well, except for one on a fast break). Meanwhile, Gilvydas Biruta proved why he is a key cog on the team, as the offense goes through him. He was able to put the ball in the hoop (16 points), and force Herb Pope into foul trouble.

But most impressive was Seagears who played the game of his life. He made the game miserable for Theodore (who scored 17 hard fought points. He kept Theodore in front of him during the pick and rolls. And he drew the questionable 5th foul on Pope, for running into a blind screen. Seagears made shots and, on what looked like a broken play, made the game winning three after falling down on the baseline.

In the postgame, Mike Rice said he thinks his freshmen are growing up. The three guards really contributed today. Eli Carter scored 17 points, including some dipsy-do lay-ups in overtime. Myles Mack only made one shot, but it was a three early in the game that kept RU's confidence up. Rutgers shot 10 of 15 from 3 point land.

Rutgers really showed a toughness tonight. Despite late lead change, and several hard runs to tie the game from Seton Hall, they rarely lost their composure. The big shots went down. The free throws went down. Rutgers won this game. Seton Hall didn't lose it.

And now there's a chance to turn around a lost season. The final two games are at home, with struggling Villanova, and undermanned St. John's coming to town. The Scarlet Knights have a chance to really get on a roll going into the Big East Tournament. They just need to keep playing the way they're playing.

Meanwhile, Seton Hall is going to have to find itself once again. Because, after losing tonight, it may not be only girls turning down the Pirates.