Sanders sinks Northwestern as Rutgers wins in OT, 67-58

PISCATAWAY, N.J. (AP) With senior captain Deshawn Freeman benched, star guard Corey Sanders had a game-high 30 points to lead Rutgers to a 67-58 overtime victory over Northwestern on Tuesday night at the RAC.

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Sanders, who kept the Scarlet Knights (13-15, 3-12 Big Ten) alive all game, hit a game-tying 3-pointer with 5.6 seconds left in regulation to send the game to overtime tied at 56. Rutgers closed out the game on a 31-13 run.

Derek Pardon hit his first six shots and had 13 rebounds to go along with 12 points to lead Northwestern (15-12, 6-8). Scottie Lindsey added 19 points and Aaron Falzon – who went 3 for 3 in the first half – had eight points off the bench for the Wildcats.

Pardon and Falzon started a combined 8-for-8 shooting in the first half.

Northwestern jumped out to an 8-2 lead on a Lindsey jumper assisted by Bryant McIntosh before Rutgers tied it at 10 on a Sanders layup.

The Wildcats almost pulled away early. Souf Mensah's bucket stopped Northwestern's 12-2 run and left Rutgers trailing 23-16. Northwestern went into the break up 33-24.

BIG PICTURE

Northwestern: Losers of two in a row coming off a loss at Maryland, the Wildcats need to get back on track with a win as they try to build up a resume to make the NCAA Tournament after making it to the dance for the first time a season ago.

Rutgers: Picked to finish last in the Big Ten, Rutgers is trying to dig itself out of the basement of the conference as they snapped a seven-game losing streak.

BENCHED

Freeman didn't play for the first time this season because of a coach's decision. The senior captain started 31of 33 games last year and all 17 this year.

UP NEXT

Northwestern: Hosts No. 2 Michigan State on Saturday, at 1 p.m.

Rutgers: Travels to Maryland on Saturday night.