Dylan Harper responds to brother Ron Harper Jr.'s buzzer-beater comparison: "His shot was better, mine was more meaningful"
Dylan Harper believes his 3-point buzzer-beating shot against Seton Hall was more meaningful than his brother's past-midcourt heave against Purdue in 2021. Dylan made the claim during the postgame interview of Rutgers' 66-63 win against the Pirates in the Garden State Hardwood Classic on Saturday night.
The five-star freshman took the inbounds pass, dribbled up the floor and buried the game-winning 3-pointer before the final buzzer sounded. The last-second triple was almost the same as what his older brother, Ron Jr., took on Dec. 9, 2021, against the then-No. 1-ranked Boilermakers.
With the score at 68-67 in favor of the Boilermakers, Ron Harper Jr. dribbled the ball past midcourt and heaved a prayer that went in as the buzzer sounded, giving Rutgers a 70-68 win.
When asked about what the shot meant for him, Dylan still praised his older brother's feat as one of the best shots in college basketball, but his heave was more meaningful considering what's at stake in the showdown.
"I think his shot was one of the best shots in college basketball. I mean they beat No. 1 team. I mean all credit to him," Dylan Harper said (5:50). "I think his shot was better but I think mine was more meaningful just because of the game and the type of environment and just the rivalry and just all the wins and losses that have been through his program."
The younger Harper top-scored for Rutgers with 24 points—18 in the second half—helping the Scarlet Knights fight back from 10 down and beat the Pirates for the Garden State Hardwood Classic title.
Dylan Harper was 'confident' of making the game-winner
Dylan Harper expressed confidence that he can make that game-winner against Seton Hall. According to the freshman guard, he was confident his shot would fall in because he does it a lot in practice.
Harper wanted to get the best shot possible in that situation. He figured out a way when he saw the defense collapsing on his curl, and he attacked the most open part of the court and launched his heave before the buzzer sounded.
Rutgers coach Steve Pikiell echoed his player's statement. He noted that during the huddle, he asked his players to shoot if there was a good look at the basket, and luckily his star freshman found a slight opening, and the rest was history.
"I'm confident in these guys, and they're figuring out. They're growing up in those tough games, and now we're figuring out ways to win tough games," Pikiell said (3:34).
Dylan Harper, Ace Bailey and the rest of the Rutgers Scarlet Knights will return on Saturday (Dec. 21) against rival Princeton in the Never Forget Tribute Classic. Tipoff is at noon ET at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.
The Tigers (8-4) are coming off a 71-67 win against Monmouth on Tuesday at the Jadwin Gymnasium.