National Basketball Association
Hofstra 88, Rutgers 86
When: 7:00 PM ET, Tuesday, March 14, 2023
Where: Jersey Mike's Arena, Piscataway, New Jersey
Officials:
# Brandon Cruz, # Andy O'Brien, # King Whetstone
Attendance:
5017
By Field Level Media
Tyler Thomas hit a game-winning jumper with 10 seconds left in overtime on Tuesday night for Hofstra, which overcame a five-point deficit in the final minute of regulation to upset top-seeded Rutgers, 88-86, in a National Invitation Tournament first-round game in Piscataway, N.J.
The Pride (25-9) trailed 74-69 when Caleb McConnell converted a layup with 30 seconds left in the second half. But Thomas hit a 3-pointer and Derek Simpson missed a free throw with 18 seconds left for Rutgers (19-15), after which Nelson Boachie-Yiadom put back a missed 3-point attempt by Jaquan Carlos to force overtime with two seconds left.
The teams combined to shoot a blistering 76.9 percent (10-for-13) in overtime, including 4-for-5 from 3-point land. Hofstra never trailed after Thomas opened the extra session with a jumper, but Rutgers overcame a quartet of four-point deficits and tied the score on a layup by Simpson with 32 seconds left.
Thomas responded with the go-ahead basket. After a timeout, Simpson missed a running layup and the ball bounced out of bounds as time expired.
Hofstra -- which won its first NIT game since edging Saint Joseph's 77-75 in overtime in a second-round game in 2006 -- will face the winner of Wednesday's Cincinnati-Virginia Tech game.
Thomas finished with 25 points for Hofstra, including 11 after Aaron Estrada -- who entered Tuesday averaging a team-high 20.5 points per game -- fouled out with 6:51 left. Darlinstone Dubar scored 17 points while Estrada had 13 points.
Carlos added 12 points and Boachie-Yiadom finished with 10 points and eight rebounds for the Pride, who earned an automatic bid to the NIT after winning the regular-season championship in the Colonial Athletic Association.
Cam Spencer had 22 points for Rutgers, which, despite being one of the NIT's top seeds, squandered an early 10-point lead Tuesday night. Simpson scored 19 points while Clifford Omoruyi (14 points) and McConnell (13 points) also got into double figures.
--Field Level Media
Top Game Performances
| Hofstra |
|
Rutgers |
|
Tyler Thomas 25 |
Scoring |
Cam Spencer 22 |
|
Jaquan Carlos 5 |
Assists |
Paul Mulcahy 5 |
|
Nelson Boachie-Yiadom 8 |
Rebounds |
Cam Spencer 8 |
|
Jaquan Carlos 2 |
Free Throws Made |
Paul Mulcahy 3 |
|
Aaron Estrada 3 |
Steals |
Caleb McConnell 2 |
|
Warren Williams 2 |
Blocks |
Aundre Hyatt 1 |
Team Stats Summary
| Team |
Points |
FG% |
3PM-3PA |
FTM-FTA |
Assists |
Rebounds |
Blocks |
Steals |
Turnovers |
| Hofstra
|
88 |
56.9 |
10-26 |
4-5 |
15 |
30 |
5 |
6 |
16 |
| Rutgers
|
86 |
50.7 |
8-20 |
8-13 |
18 |
28 |
3 |
7 |
10 |
For more information, contact us