LAS VEGAS — In an exhilarating matchup at the Players Era Festival, Dylan Harper delivered a personal best by scoring 36 points, as Rutgers narrowly edged out Notre Dame with an 85-84 win in overtime on Tuesday night.

Rutgers built an 81-75 advantage with only 50 seconds left in OT. However, Notre Dame’s Matt Allocco turned the game around by sinking three consecutive 3-pointers in just 30 seconds. His final shot, a contested step-back three, leveled the score at 84-84 with 12.4 seconds remaining on the clock.

Following that sequence, Cole Certa fouled Harper on the next play, which sent him to the free-throw line with just 11 seconds left. Harper converted one of two free throws, putting Rutgers ahead 85-84. Notre Dame called a timeout with 3.9 seconds remaining, but Allocco’s long-range 3-point attempt missed the mark as time expired.

During overtime, Rutgers was efficient at the free-throw line, successfully landing 9 of 12 attempts. Harper contributed significantly to this effort with eight points and hitting 6 of 8 from the charity stripe.

In the final seconds of regular play, Allocco nailed a contested 3-pointer, tying the game at 69-69 with 8.4 seconds to go. Harper attempted to secure a win with his own 3-point shot but missed, leading the game into overtime.

Harper ended the game shooting 12 of 22 from the field and 10 of 14 from the free-throw line. Jordan Derkack supported him well with 16 points, while teammates Ace Bailey and Jeremiah Williams each added 10 points.

Allocco was the standout for Notre Dame, achieving six 3-pointers, amassing 24 points, grabbing 10 rebounds, and providing five assists. Braeden Shrewsberry contributed 16 points, with 12 scored in the first half, while Tae Davis added 15 points to the team’s total.

Rutgers executed a 9-0 run late in the game, highlighted by a dunk from Derkack and five points from Williams, to take a 65-62 lead with 3:44 remaining in regulation. The Scarlet Knights maintained the lead until Allocco’s late game-tying shot.

At halftime, Rutgers fought back with a 19-10 run, narrowing their deficit to 35-34. Harper’s early contributions included 13 points on 6-of-9 shooting, while Shrewsberry provided 12 points for the Irish.

As both teams progress in the tournament, Rutgers is set to face off against No. 9 Alabama while Notre Dame is scheduled to compete against No. 6 Houston.