National Basketball Association
BOXSCORE | RECAP
Hofstra 88, Rutgers 86
When: 7:00 PM ET, Tuesday, March 14, 2023
Where: Jersey Mike's Arena, Piscataway, New Jersey
Officials: # Brandon Cruz, # Andy O'Brien, # King Whetstone
Attendance: 5017

Tyler Thomas hit a game-winning jumper with 10 seconds left in overtime on Tuesday night for Hofstra, which overcame a five-point deficit in the final minute of regulation to upset top-seeded Rutgers, 88-86, in a National Invitation Tournament first-round game in Piscataway, N.J.

The Pride (25-9) trailed 74-69 when Caleb McConnell converted a layup with 30 seconds left in the second half. But Thomas hit a 3-pointer and Derek Simpson missed a free throw with 18 seconds left for Rutgers (19-15), after which Nelson Boachie-Yiadom put back a missed 3-point attempt by Jaquan Carlos to force overtime with two seconds left.

The teams combined to shoot a blistering 76.9 percent (10-for-13) in overtime, including 4-for-5 from 3-point land. Hofstra never trailed after Thomas opened the extra session with a jumper, but Rutgers overcame a quartet of four-point deficits and tied the score on a layup by Simpson with 32 seconds left.

Thomas responded with the go-ahead basket. After a timeout, Simpson missed a running layup and the ball bounced out of bounds as time expired.

Hofstra -- which won its first NIT game since edging Saint Joseph's 77-75 in overtime in a second-round game in 2006 -- will face the winner of Wednesday's Cincinnati-Virginia Tech game.

Thomas finished with 25 points for Hofstra, including 11 after Aaron Estrada -- who entered Tuesday averaging a team-high 20.5 points per game -- fouled out with 6:51 left. Darlinstone Dubar scored 17 points while Estrada had 13 points.

Carlos added 12 points and Boachie-Yiadom finished with 10 points and eight rebounds for the Pride, who earned an automatic bid to the NIT after winning the regular-season championship in the Colonial Athletic Association.

Cam Spencer had 22 points for Rutgers, which, despite being one of the NIT's top seeds, squandered an early 10-point lead Tuesday night. Simpson scored 19 points while Clifford Omoruyi (14 points) and McConnell (13 points) also got into double figures.

--Field Level Media

Top Game Performances
 
Hofstra   Rutgers
Tyler Thomas 25 Scoring Cam Spencer 22
Jaquan Carlos 5 Assists Paul Mulcahy 5
Nelson Boachie-Yiadom 8 Rebounds Cam Spencer 8
Jaquan Carlos 2 Free Throws Made Paul Mulcahy 3
Aaron Estrada 3 Steals Caleb McConnell 2
Warren Williams 2 Blocks Aundre Hyatt 1
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Points FG% 3PM-3PA FTM-FTA Assists Rebounds Blocks Steals Turnovers
Hofstra 88 56.9 10-26 4-5 15 30 5 6 16
Rutgers 86 50.7 8-20 8-13 18 28 3 7 10