Feb 14, 2002

Notre Dame at Rutgers Box Score

PISCATAWAY, N.J. (AP) – Ricky Shields scored 14 of his 16 points in the second half and hit two big free throws with 18.8 seconds left to help Rutgers to a 65-62 win over Notre Dame Thursday night.

Chris Thomas, who scored 32 points against Rutgers last week but was held without a field goal, missed a 3-pointer as time ran out.

Rutgers (16-8, 6-5) snapped a five-game winning streak by Notre Dame (17-7, 7-4) and avenged a 17-point setback in South Bend eight days earlier.

Thomas, who shot 7-for-9 from 3-point range in the Irish’s win over Rutgers, was 0-for-14 overall and 0-for-9 from 3-point range. Mike Sherrod held the freshman to six points.

Trailing 61-51 with 4:14 remaining, Notre Dame battled to within 63-62 with 26.6 seconds left. Shields was then fouled and hit both free throws, snapping a string of three straight misses from the line for Rutgers.

Notre Dame tried to set up but Ryan Humphery, who led ND with 18 points and 19 rebounds, lost the ball. Jerome Coleman was fouled but missed both with 7.7 seconds remaining. Thomas shot to tie then bounced hard off the glass and the buzzer sounded seconds later.

Rashod Kent had 18 points, 15 rebounds, four blocked shots and four steals for Rutgers, while Matt Carroll had 15 points and David Graves 10 for ND.

After Harold Swanagan opened the second half with a bucket to put Notre Dame up 37-32, Rutgers scored 10 straight that led to a 21-8 run and 53-43 Scarlet Knight lead with 10:29 remaining.

Notre Dame used a 14-1 run to open a 16-6 lead and maintained a comfortable advantage until Coleman was fouled after making a 3-pointer, and hit the foul shot for a four-point play. Kent then had two straight steals resulting in baskets as Rutgers closed to 26-24, and Rutgers took a 31-30 lead when Herve Lamizana hit a 3-pointer. ND closed with a 5-1 run to take a 35-32 halftime lead.

Rutgers played without starting center Eugene Dabney, who sprained his right ankle in practice on Wednesday.