Harper’s Historic Triple-Double Powers Victory Over Columbia

PISCATAWAY — The Scarlet Knights men’s basketball squad made a powerful return from their nine-day holiday hiatus, achieving a commanding 91-64 victory over Columbia on Monday night, marking their final non-conference game for the regular season. Dylan Harper achieved a remarkable triple-double in the performance. Harper delivered an exceptional all-around display with 16 points, 12 assists, and 11 rebounds, securing the first triple-double for an RU player since Roy Hinson accomplished it on March 2, 1983 against Rhode Island (24 points, 10 rebounds, 10 blocks).

Rutgers burst out of the blocks, converting their first five possessions and seizing an 18-8 advantage heading into the initial media timeout. Ace Bailey was phenomenal in the first half — he accumulated 17 points on 73 percent shooting, including several breathtaking dunks, propelling RU to a 44-35 lead at halftime. Bailey concluded with 24 points and eight rebounds.

Sophomore Jamichael Davis also made a significant impact on the score sheet — he posted 11 points, a career-best seven assists, three rebounds, three steals, and a block in his fourth consecutive start. Captain Jeremiah Williams contributed nine points.

Freshman Lathan Sommerville led the second unit with 11 points, while walk-on Peter Noble capped off the game with a long three-pointer that energized the Jersey Mike’s Arena crowd. Rutgers’ bench accumulated 28 points.

Rutgers tallied an impressive 26 assists on 36 made baskets (72 percent), dominated the rebounding statistical battle 45-31, and limited themselves to only four turnovers. They exploited Columbia’s 14 turnovers for 14 points and scored 18 fast-break points. RU accumulated 44 points in the paint (48 percent of their total).

RU emerged victorious in the turnover battle 14 to four and secured 14 offensive rebounds compared to Columbia’s three. The Scarlet Knights enhanced their record to 8-5, while the Lions dropped to 11-2.

Rutgers’ inaugural challenge of the new year will be on the road, as they resume Big Ten competition against Indiana in Bloomington at 8:30 PM on Thursday, Jan. 2.

Postgame Notes

 

Ace Bailey: 24 Points, 8 Rebounds

• Equaled his career high in points

Dylan Harper: 16 Points, 12 Assists, 11 Rebounds

• Achieved Rutgers’ first triple-double since Roy Hinson – (24 points, 10 rebounds, 10 blocks) – March 2, 1983 vs. Rhode Island
• First freshman with a triple-double since Nov. 11, 2023 (the previous season) – Carlton Carrington of Pitt
• First Big Ten freshman to record a triple-double since 2016 – Ohio State’s Jaquan Lyle, against Rutgers, Jan. 13
• First triple-double by a men’s player at Jersey Mike’s Arena since 2015 – Ohio State’s Deangelo Russell (Feb. 8)
• Notched his second game this season with over 10 rebounds, just one shy of his career high
• Achieved a career-best in assists

Jamichael Davis: 11 Points

• Achieved a season-best of 11 points, just one shy of his career-high
• Converted four three-pointers in the past two games after shooting 0-of-7 from beyond the arc in the first 11 contests
• Career-best seven assists 

Lathan Sommerville: 11 Points

• Four games this season with double-digit scoring and first since November 15 vs. Monmouth

Rutgers recorded a season-low of 4 turnovers, a season-high 34 three-pointers attempted, and their second-most steals this season (11).
Rutgers surpassed 90+ points for the third time this season (also: Monmouth and Alabama), marking the first occasion for three 90+ point games in a single season since the 2018-19 year.
 
With the Victory

• 26th all-time win over Columbia
• 11th consecutive victory over Columbia and victories in 15 of the past 16 encounters
• 74-19 at Jersey Mike’s Arena since 2019-20
• 7-0 at home this season and 18-5 over the past two campaigns

Postgame Remarks

Head coach Steve Pikiell Opening Statement:

“Thank you for attending. What a fantastic crowd after the holiday weekend. Happy New Year to everyone. I have been acquainted with Jim (Engles) for a long time. He is a remarkable individual and an excellent coach. His team will be as formidable as any in the Ivy League.”

Coach Pikiell on Dylan Harper’s First Triple Double since Roy Hinson:

“Roy Hinson was one of the most outstanding individuals. Not only was he a phenomenal player here, but also in the NBA. To be compared with him is a fantastic honor. I appreciate the fact that Dylan (Harper)

had seven rebounds in the initial half. He assisted, and he scored. I frequently mention that the players have brighter days ahead which is the thrilling aspect. However, that was a remarkable achievement.”

Coach Pikiell on achieving 80-plus points for the sixth occasion this season: 

“I believed we distribution of the ball effectively. We accumulated 26 assists and no turnovers. Jamichael (Davis) tallied seven assists without any turnovers. Nevertheless, I was most satisfied with our defense today. Columbia is an exceptionally strong team. I believe they are averaging 83 points per game. They have shown great efficiency in scoring with their experienced guards. Hence, our defense made significant progress for us tonight. We need to continue this and maintain this level of play for the remainder of the season. It is vital for us and our growth.”

Coach Pikiell on scoring 91 points :

“A victory is a victory. We do not fret about the details beyond that. I aim to perform well, and I desire to win. Simply winning is crucial, along with performing well. Our home audience was incredible too, which contributed.”

Dylan Harper on contributing to Roy Hinson’s Legacy:

“Clearly, it is a significant achievement. However, I couldn’t have done it without my teammates. Players like Jamichael Davis, Ace Bailey, really positioned me well. They were open for me to locate them. The most essential aspect is that we triumphed today; that was our goal. We prepped excellently and executed everything correctly.”

Coach Pikiell on preparing for the match:

“You will always have concerns returning from a holiday pause, yet they remained concentrated and had a successful week. We must persist in this manner. We need to play as we practice. We have been somewhat erratic in that regard. We need to excel. We performed well this week, but we must aim for greatness going forward.”

Coach Pikiell on confidence for Big 10 season:

“We have endured a challenging stretch, thus I have remained quite confident. I believe we have faced the toughest schedule certainly during my time here. We have been on the road, we have pushed ourselves. I think we have challenged ourselves and gleaned a lot of lessons, but we must maintain consistency. Today we made significant progress in that area. I felt our communication was exceptional during the first and second halves. In terms of rebounding, we have been inconsistent, yet today marked a key advancement for us. It is a critical aspect of what we need to accomplish.”

Ace Bailey on collaborating with Dylan Harper:

“It is a privilege. Not everyone gets the opportunity to play alongside Dylan Harper. We value him being in that role and doing whatever we require. Whether it’s a rebound, an assist, or a score, he consistently positions his teammates effectively for success.”

Ace Bailey on realizing if Dylan Harper achieved the Triple Double when his shot went in:

“Dylan (Harper) approached me right after and expressed gratitude.”

Coach Pikiell on conceding only three offensive rebounds: 

“We have previously rebounded against Texas A&M, and they are a formidable team. Therefore, we must keep emphasizing that. I think Jamichael (Davis) has infused our team with positive energy. He has performed admirably in defense. He has also bolstered our toughness. Jeremiah (Williams) took on the role of guarding Geronimo (Rubio De La Rosa), who has been scoring significantly against teams. When those players energize us, positive outcomes follow.

Coach Pikiell Closing Remarks:

“We aimed to excel. I felt we were adequately prepared. My staff does a fantastic job, Brandin Knight, Steve Hayn, and Jay Young. They played a critical part in preparing us for contests like this. Our players were focused. Their communication was engaged. In the huddle, they were attentive. The energy was excellent. We executed effectively against a team that has faced few losses this year. Therefore, it was a perilous matchup. Thank you all for attending. We truly appreciate it.”

 

Gallery: (12-30-2024) Men’s Basketball Defeats Columbia