Powell powers Seton Hall to Classic win vs. Rutgers
Myles Powell spent the past year growing irritated hearing Rutgers was the best college basketball team in the Garden State. That won’t be the case for the New Jersey native in 2019.
Powell had a game-high 28 points, including six 3-pointers to lead Seton Hall past Rutgers 72-66 in the Garden State Hardwood Classic on Saturday.
“You only get to play that game once, and Jersey basketball is only so big … so to have to go and travel around the state just knowing that Rutgers beat us and people walking around saying that Rutgers is better than Seton Hall — you take it personally,” Powell said. “So like I said, they left a bad taste in my mouth all year and I finally got to get them back, so it feels good.”
The Scarlet Knights (5-5) seemed poised to make a double-digit comeback for the second straight year after Peter Kiss (14 points) drilled a 3pointer off a pass from Geo Baker. That capped off a 10-0 run by Rutgers, causing Seton Hall (7-3) to call timeout. Trailing 46-39 with 14:07 left in the game, Rutgers was able to cut the lead to three after a layup by Montez Mathis with 3:21 remaining. That’s the closest Rutgers got as Powell hit a 3-pointer on the ensuing possession.
“Powell made a huge one,” Rutgers coach Steve Pikiell said. “Again, I’ve seen him do it. We tried to deny him the ball and he made a couple unguardable shots. We dug back into this basketball game, but we’re still a team of a lot of youth and a team trying to figure things out.”
Rutgers was led by Eugene Omoruyi, who had 15 points and seven rebounds.
“The trophy is where it’s supposed to be now. Seton Hall owns the state,” Powell said. “Now we get to wear the crown for a year.”