WATCH: Rutgers player throws punch, gets ejected in wild ending
The ending to Rutgers vs. Indiana looked like it was setting up to be crazy. Then, a Scarlet Knights player got called for a flagrant 2, meaning he was ejected with 19.2 seconds to play — and it wound up being a true March ending.
Rutgers guard Paul Mulcahy got ejected after an altercation with Indiana guard Xavier Johnson, including an apparent punch. But Johnson was also tagged with a common foul, meaning both teams got two free throws and Indiana got the ball back down three points.
What happened next was true March Madness. Indiana guard Parker Stewart hit a three-pointer with 10 seconds left to tie things up at 63. Then, Rutgers guard Ron Harper Jr. hit another big-time shot with 2.1 seconds left to give the Scarlet Knights another thrilling victory.
It’s yet another huge win for Rutgers, which is trying to build up its NCAA tournament resume ahead of the Big Ten tournament. The Scarlet Knights are now 17-12 overall and 11-8 in Big Ten play. For Harper, it marked another big-time shot after he helped Rutgers stun then-No. 1 Purdue at Jersey Mike’s Arena earlier this season.
Rutgers, Indiana among nine Big Ten bids in ESPN’s latest bracketology
College basketball fans, rejoice. It’s officially March, and a new bracketology from ESPN is out. Here’s a breakdown of Joe Lunardi’s bracketology heading into Tuesday night’s slate of games.
Bubble Teams
LAST FOUR BYES: Creighton, San Francisco, Wake Forest, Michigan
LAST FOUR IN: Memphis, San Diego State, Indiana, Rutgers
FIRST FOUR OUT: Loyola Chicago, BYU, Oregon, SMU
NEXT FOUR OUT: Virginia Tech, Florida, St. Bonaventure, Dayton
West Region
No. 1 Gonzaga vs. No. 16 Alcorn State/New Orleans
No. 8 Colorado State vs. No. 9 Xavier
No. 5 Houston vs. No. 12 South Dakota State
No. 4 UCLA vs. No. 13 Toledo
No. 6 LSU vs. No. 11 Michigan
No. 3 Texas Tech vs. No. 14 New Mexico State
No. 7 Marquette vs. No. 10 San Francisco
No. 2 Purdue vs. No. 15 Montana State
East Region
No. 1 Kansas vs. No. 16 Cleveland State
No. 8 Seton Hall vs. No. 9 Wyoming
No. 5 Arkansas vs. No. 12 North Texas
No. 4 Illinois vs. No. 13 Northern Iowa
No. 6 Ohio State vs. No. 11 Wake Forest
No. 3 Villanova vs. No. 14 Towson
No. 7 Michigan State vs. No. 10 Miami
No. 2 Auburn vs. No. 15 Colgate
South Region
No. 1 Arizona vs. No. 16 Long Beach State
No. 8 Notre Dame vs. No. 9 Murray State
No. 5 Alabama vs. No. 12 San Diego State/Rutgers
No. 4 UConn vs. No. 13 Vermont
No. 6 Saint Mary’s vs. No. 11 Memphis/Indiana
No. 3 Tennessee vs. No. 14 Princeton
No. 7 Iowa vs. No. 10 Davidson
No. 2 Duke vs. No. 15 Longwood
Midwest Region
No. 1 Baylor vs. No. 16 Norfolk State/Bryant
No. 8 Boise State vs. No. 9 TCU
No. 5 Texas vs. No. 12 Iona
No. 4 Providence vs. No. 13 Chattanooga
No. 6 USC vs. No. 11 Creighton
No. 3 Wisconsin vs. No. 14 Texas State
No. 7 Iowa State vs. No. 10 North Carolina
No. 2 Kentucky vs. No. 15 Jacksonville State