A total team win

[Degaz-RU]

We got contributions from just about everybody who played tonight.

Sanders just on fire, 12-20 for 28 points. Absolute ONIONS with dagger after dagger.

Freeman off the bench with high energy, 15 points and 8 rebounds, and no dumb plays (except for that faux pas at the end of the first half). But perhaps most importantly, really good scrappy defense on Juwan Morgan, who had a quiet 15 points.

Geo Baker with his legs back, nails three huge 3-pointers, plus 4 clutch FTs down the stretch, with 15 points.

Eugene with four nice post baskets, giving us a post presence to balance out the perimeter offense. And making Morgan work on defense. Gene just has a knack for finishing when he gets within 8 feet of the rim.

Mike Williams with a key put back in the 2nd half and so poetic that he sealed the victory with two FTs.

Thiam quiet on offense, but played his usual SUPERB perimeter defense.

Doorson and Sa not big in the stat sheet, but did what they needed to do on the defensive end.

The best part of this game is that Rutgers did not fold down the stretch. Indiana kept coming back, and we always had an answer, keeping our composure like a veteran team. And Sanders just carrying the team on his back.

One more night at the Garden, and 40 more minutes. Can’t ask for anything more.

 

[czxqa]

The boys played out of their mind tonight. On the biggest stage in their biggest game of the year, they came up huge. Freeman took them on his back and carried them single handed until Corey caught fire. Then everyone else picked their game up and the energy just flowed. Shaq looked lost out there on D the first five minutes, and I would say maybe the slow start was because of nerves if I hadn't seen it time and time again this year.
Give Indiana credit, Archie Miller said before the game that they wanted to take the offensive boards away from us and they succeeded at that. They played tough D, and did everything right but score. Then again, our D was suffocating. Points were not easy to come by honestly for them.
So keyed up after the game, it's taken me this long to settle down, lol. Someone in the game thread posted best win this year after Seton Hall. As satisfying as that win was, I really believe this one was bigger.