Rutgers Men’s Basketball Survives a Scare from Saint Peter’s, Thanks to a Game-Winning Shot by Jordan Derkack

Piscataway, N.J. – February 8, 2023 – The Rutgers men’s basketball team narrowly escaped a potential upset on Tuesday night, defeating Saint Peter’s 58-56 at Jersey Mike’s Arena.

Background and Context
The Scarlet Knights entered the game as a heavy favorite, having won their last four games. However, Saint Peter’s, the defending MAAC champions, are known for their ability to pull off upsets. They nearly did it again on Tuesday, leading by as many as 10 points in the second half.

Key Facts and Latest Updates
Rutgers was led by senior guard Jordan Derkack, who finished with a team-high 15 points, including the game-winning shot with just seconds remaining. The Scarlet Knights also got a strong performance from freshman forward Cliff Omoruyi, who had 13 points and 10 rebounds.

For Saint Peter’s, junior guard Matthew Lee led the way with 17 points. The Peacocks shot 44.4% from the field, but they were undone by their poor free throw shooting, making just 12-of-22 attempts.

Analysis and Impact
Rutgers head coach Steve Pikiell was relieved to escape with a win, but he knows that his team needs to play better if they want to compete for a Big Ten championship.

“We got a lot of things to work on,” Pikiell said. “But I’m proud of my guys for finding a way to win.”

Saint Peter’s head coach Shaheen Holloway was proud of his team’s effort, but he was disappointed that they couldn’t pull off the upset.

“We had our chances,” Holloway said. “But we just didn’t make enough plays down the stretch.”

Last Words
The win improves Rutgers’ record to 17-9 overall and 9-6 in the Big Ten. The Scarlet Knights will be back in action on Saturday when they host Purdue.

Saint Peter’s falls to 15-11 overall and 8-7 in the MAAC. The Peacocks will be back in action on Thursday when they host Monmouth.