PISCATAWAY, N.J. (Interstat) — Tariq Francis scored 34 points, including a decisive 3-pointer in the final seconds, to lift Rutgers to a 70-69 comeback victory over Penn on Saturday at Louis Brown Center. The Scarlet Knights trailed by 11 at halftime but outscored the Quakers 41-36 in the second half. Francis fueled the rally, scoring 24 points after intermission. TJ Power led Penn with 19 points. Rutgers evened its record at 6-6. Penn fell to 6-5.

PISCATAWAY, N.J. (Interstat) — In a game defined by a stunning individual performance and a frantic final minute, Tariq Francis scored 34 points, including the game-winning 3-pointer at the buzzer, to lift Rutgers to a 70-69 victory over Penn in a nonconference men’s basketball game Saturday at a sold-out Louis Brown Athletic Center. The Scarlet Knights, who trailed by as many as 12 points in the first half and were down 33-29 at halftime, mounted a relentless second-half comeback to escape with a win that seemed improbable for long stretches. The victory improved Rutgers to 6-6 overall, while Penn fell to 6-5. The contest’s defining sequence unfolded in the final 30 seconds. With Rutgers clinging to a 67-65 lead, Penn’s TJ Power was fouled and went to the free-throw line with 23 seconds remaining. He made the first free throw but missed the second, keeping the Scarlet Knights ahead by one. After a Rutgers timeout, Penn immediately trapped and forced a turnover, giving the Quakers possession with a chance to win. Penn worked the ball to Power in the post, but his shot was blocked by Rutgers’ Bryce Dortch with eight seconds left. The loose ball was secured by Penn’ Dalton Scantlebury, who was fouled on the floor with 5.3 seconds on the clock. Scantlebury calmly sank both free throws to put Penn ahead 69-67. Rutgers inbounded the ball to Francis near midcourt. The sophomore guard from Pittsburgh drove to his right, created a sliver of space against tight defense and launched a deep 3-pointer from well beyond the arc as the horn sounded. The shot swished through the net, sending the crowd of 8,000 into a frenzy and capping a remarkable 41-point second half for the Scarlet Knights. Francis was the engine of the Rutgers offense all afternoon, particularly after halftime. He scored 26 of his 34 points in the second period, attacking the rim and drawing fouls consistently. He finished 9 of 10 from the free-throw line, with many of those attempts coming in the tense final minutes. His performance single-handedly kept Rutgers within striking distance as Penn’s offense stuttered down the stretch. Penn had controlled the game’s tempo for the first 30 minutes, leveraging a balanced scoring attack and strong interior play. Power, a 6-foot-9 forward from Shrewsbury, Massachusetts, led the Quakers with 19 points and added two assists and two blocks. Scantlebury, a 6-foot-9, 250-pound forward from Chicago, provided crucial muscle off the bench, scoring 13 points. Guards Cam Thrower and Michael Zanoni added 11 and 12 points, respectively, with Zanoni playing a game-high 38 minutes. The Quakers built their first-half lead with efficient offense and by limiting Rutgers’ secondary options. Outside of Francis, only Jamichael Davis (eight points) and Dylan Grant (eight points) scored more than six for the Scarlet Knights. Penn’s defense forced 14 Rutgers turnovers, but could not contain Francis when it mattered most. The loss marked a missed opportunity for Penn to secure a significant road win against a Big Ten opponent. The Quakers had won three of their last four games, including a close victory over Lafayette earlier in December. Rutgers, meanwhile, halted a two-game skid that included losses to Seton Hall and Michigan. The Scarlet Knights had been projected as heavy favorites pregame, with statistical models giving them a 90.9% chance to win, but they needed every bit of Francis’ heroics to validate that prediction. Penn will look to regroup when it travels to face George Mason on Dec. 28. Rutgers will remain at home to host Delaware State on Dec. 29.

Preview: Penn Quakers at Rutgers Scarlet Knights PISCATAWAY, N.J. (Interstat) — The Penn Quakers and Rutgers Scarlet Knights, programs heading in opposite directions entering the holiday break, will meet in a nonconference men’s basketball game Saturday at Louis Brown Athletic Center. Penn (6-4) arrives with momentum, having won four of its last five games, including a 74-72 victory over Lafayette on Dec. 8. The Quakers’ recent success has been fueled by balance, with Augustus Gerhart (15 points), Dalton Scantlebury (14 points) and TJ Power (14 points) all contributing significantly in the win over the Leopards. Gerhart, a player to watch, is coming off that 15-point performance in 19 minutes and has provided steady backcourt production. Rutgers (5-6) seeks to halt a four-game skid, its most recent a 81-59 road loss to Seton Hall on Dec. 13. The Scarlet Knights’ struggles have been pronounced against high-major competition, with losses to Michigan, Purdue and Tennessee during the slide. Guard Harun Zrno has emerged as a bright spot, averaging 13.7 points over the last three games, including a team-high 15 points in 34 minutes against Seton Hall. The matchup presents a contrast in trajectories. Penn’s record is bolstered by wins over mid-major foes like Drexel and La Salle, though it fell by 27 at Villanova earlier this month. Rutgers, facing a tougher schedule, has yet to secure a win against a power-conference opponent this season, with its victories coming against teams like UNLV, American and Lehigh. This game serves as a final tune-up before both teams disperse for the holidays. Penn will visit George Mason on Dec. 28 before opening Ivy League play in January. Rutgers hosts Delaware State on Dec. 29 before a daunting start to Big Ten Conference play, beginning with Ohio State on Jan. 2. Saturday’s contest will hinge on whether Penn’s efficient recent form can travel or if Rutgers can leverage its home court and physical style to disrupt the Quakers and build confidence before league action. Tip-off is scheduled for Saturday afternoon.