NEW YORK, NY — Rutgers showed flashes of a team capable of making noise in the Big Ten this season, but a stunning second-half collapse and four overtime periods ultimately left the Scarlet Knights with more questions than answers.
Rutgers fell 104-99 to St. John’s in a quadruple-overtime exhibition Sunday at Madison Square Garden, playing before 11,041 fans. Although the outcome will not count toward either team’s regular-season record, the marathon matchup offered a revealing look at Rutgers’ potential and the areas that still need improvement.
For much of the opening half, Rutgers looked capable of competing with a St. John’s squad viewed as a potential Final Four contender. The Scarlet Knights moved the ball effectively, knocked down shots and built a commanding advantage. But the momentum changed dramatically after halftime, when St. John’s erased a 20-point deficit in just eight minutes.
Rutgers responded with determination, surviving repeated swings in momentum and forcing the game into four extra periods. However, the Scarlet Knights could not find the finishing touch needed to secure the victory.
Associate head coach Brandin Knight, filling in for head coach Steve Pikiell for the second consecutive game, saw his team deliver an impressive first-half performance before struggling to maintain its execution after the break.
“For the most part I thought we did a lot of good things,” Knight said. “We just have to finish…have to get a little better with our execution down the stretch, and that’s on me.”
Rutgers established control early by shooting efficiently and attacking the basket. The Scarlet Knights connected on 17 of 30 attempts in the first half, a 56.7% shooting performance that helped them seize control against the Red Storm.
Rutgers closed the half with a decisive scoring surge, extending its advantage to 46-28 at the break. St. John’s struggled to find its rhythm, missing 13 of its final 15 shots in the opening period while the Scarlet Knights converted seven of their last nine attempts.
Francis led Rutgers with 13 first-half points on 6-of-8 shooting. Gurdak chipped in 12 points and six boards, while Jones provided a valuable spark off the bench with eight points without missing a shot.
The advantage grew even larger when Smith opened the second half with a step-back jumper, putting Rutgers ahead 48-28. At that moment, the Scarlet Knights appeared firmly in control.
St. John’s, however, had other plans.
The Red Storm responded with a 16-4 run, taking advantage of Rutgers’ offensive struggles and gradually reclaiming control of the contest. St. John’s continued to attack as the Scarlet Knights struggled to generate quality opportunities, and the game was tied at 52 with 11:58 remaining.
The turnaround exposed Rutgers’ difficulties when its early offensive success disappeared. After finding open looks and finishing efficiently before halftime, the Scarlet Knights began settling for difficult shots and committing costly mistakes.
Rutgers managed only seven field goals on 32 attempts during the second half of regulation. Eight second-half turnovers and several shot-clock violations further disrupted its offensive flow, allowing St. John’s to erase the deficit and turn the exhibition into a tightly contested battle.
Lino Mark helped Rutgers navigate the pressure with his ability to penetrate the lane and create opportunities off the dribble. Still, the Scarlet Knights struggled to sustain the offensive rhythm that had made them so effective early.
Francis acknowledged that Rutgers must remain committed to playing collectively rather than forcing difficult shots when the offense stalls.
“We’re really good when we play together and we trust each other,” Francis said. “In the second half we took some tough shots. But when we play together we can be a really good team, defensively and offensively.”
St. John’s coach Rick Pitino recognized the challenges Rutgers could present, particularly when its guards attack off the dribble and put pressure on opposing defenses.
“They’re the type of team that can beat you off the bounce and score, and that’s a strong weapon,” Pitino said. “They’ll be tough offensively. They play hard. They’re a good group.”
Despite surrendering its substantial lead, Rutgers regrouped late in regulation and made another push to take control. Smith knocked down a three-pointer with 57 seconds remaining to tie the game at 69. Gurdak then converted two free throws with 38 seconds left, putting the Scarlet Knights ahead 71-69.
St. John’s answered when Quinn Ellis drove for a tying layup with approximately 15 to 23 seconds remaining. Rutgers had one final opportunity to win in regulation, but Buchanan’s layup attempt at the buzzer rolled off the rim, sending the teams into overtime tied at 71.
The extra periods produced a series of tense exchanges as neither team could deliver a knockout blow. Rutgers regained the lead at several points and showed resilience after its second-half collapse, but missed opportunities prevented the Scarlet Knights from closing out the contest.
The second overtime featured particularly efficient offense, with the teams combining to make nine of 14 field-goal attempts. As the game continued, fatigue and execution became increasingly important, yet neither side was able to create enough separation to end the marathon.
St. John’s eventually pulled away in the fourth overtime to claim the five-point victory.
Rutgers finished the exhibition shooting 37.1% from the field, making 37 of 89 attempts. The Scarlet Knights struggled from beyond the arc, connecting on just four of 21 three-point attempts, and made 16 of 36 layups. They went to the free-throw line 40 times, converting 29, while committing 17 turnovers.
St. John’s shot 42.4% from the floor and did enough in the closing stages to escape with the win.
For Rutgers, the performance offered both encouragement and a warning. The first half demonstrated the team’s offensive potential, ball movement and ability to challenge an elite opponent. The collapse after intermission, however, highlighted the importance of maintaining composure, making sound decisions and executing consistently for all 40 minutes — and beyond, when necessary.
The Scarlet Knights showed considerable fight by extending the game through four overtimes, but the exhibition also underscored how much work remains before they can consistently compete at a high level in the Big Ten.
The final score will not appear in the regular-season standings, but the lessons from Madison Square Garden could prove valuable when the games begin to count.
