Michigan-Rutgers hoops ends with postgame scuffle
Rutgers finally accomplished something on the basketball court it had never done before. It defeated Michigan, ending an 87-year winless streak on the hardwood against the Wolverines.
The Scarlet Knights got 27 points from Geo Baker and another 20 from Ron Harper Jr. in a 75-67 victory on Tuesday night in Piscataway. But that wasn’t the only storyline from the B1G showdown.
After the game, tempers flared between the two teams, resulting in a postgame scuffle in the handshake line. Video was captured of the fireworks after the game:
Little postgame scuffle between Rutgers and Michigan. Diabate had to be restrained by his own teammates 😳 pic.twitter.com/Wx7ONfTcH0
— Michael Bergman (@MLBergman_) January 5, 2022
Both head coaches commented on the situation after the game. It’s unclear what led to the incident.
“Honestly, and I’m not being an ass—- when I say this, but I don’t have eyes looking out my back,” Howard said, per 247Sports. “I was clapping and shaking hands with coaches and players, and then I turned around and I just saw there was some commotion behind me.”
“I don’t know,” Pikiell said. “We were shaking hands and that’s what happens in a competitive game like that. Some words were said, I’ll watch the tape and figure it out. But that happens. These are tough games against good teams; competitive teams. They are real competitive and we are.”
Rutgers improved to 8-5 on the season with the victory and is now 2-1 in B1G play. Michigan is now 7-6 with a 1-2 record in the conference.