Al Durham Scores 20 in a loss at Rutgers (video)
Rutgers came back from 15 down to get a crucial win late in the 2021 regular season.
Little did they know it at the time, but Indiana was on the verge of a meltdown when they headed to Piscataway, NJ to take on a Rutgers team battling for its first NCAA Tournament berth since 1991.
The Hoosiers entered their game on Feb. 24 of last season with an overall record of 12-10, and 7-8 in the powerful Big Ten. After an 0-2 start in league play, Indiana kept its tournament hopes alive with a pair of top ten victories, plus they had opportunities for big wins to close out the season. After traveling to Rutgers, they still had trips to Michigan State and Purdue ahead of them, as well as a late February contest with #3 Michigan.
Unfortunately for Archie Miller and his club, this loss at Rutgers (74-63) was Indiana’s second in a row — and eventually the second of a six game losing streak to close out their season.
Indiana led this one by 15 points in the first half, but Rutgers came storming back thanks in large part to New Hampshire native, and star guard Geo Baker. Baker made four of his six 3-pointers on the night during a 25-6 Rutgers spurt that completely turned this one around. In addition to his hot shooting, Baker finished the night with 10 assists.
Al Durham played a majority of this game at point guard for Indiana. He struggled to finish inside in the first half, missing on two layup attempts and being blocked on a third, before finding the range on his jumper. Durham finished the game 7-12 from the field, including 5-7 from three, to finish with 20 points (to go along with four rebounds and two assists). The seven made field goals and five 3-pointers were both season highs for him.
This was one of the first games I watched of Durham, and in my notes I had written about how Friar fans will appreciate how he moves laterally, and dumps off useful bounce passes with his offhand out of the pick and roll. Rutgers left him alone from deep early, and he made them pay by hitting three 3-pointers in the game’s first five minutes. He also drew a charge on Baker in the opening minutes. Durham later finished in traffic on another drive in the first half, and put away an and-1 on a strong move in the second.
There is a lot to like about what Durham will bring to Providence. He may be more of a game manager type point guard, rather than a true creator, but Durham can be a crafty passer out of the pick and roll, and he is a willing driver with the ball in his hands.
See more of Durham:
Al Durham’s Career High vs. Northwestern