“Dylan Harper IS the best freshman in the country. On back to back nights, Harper scored 36 and 37 points. Notre Dame and Alabama had no answers. When he’s going downhill, left or right, he’s unstoppable.” -- Bryan DeNovellis, Tri-State College Basketball Podcast.

Dylan Harper dropped a career-high 36 points and Rutgers fended off Matt Allocco and Notre Dame 85-84 in overtime to conclude a wild first day of the Players Era Festival on Tuesday night in Las Vegas.

Dylan Harper scored a career-high 36 points and Rutgers held off Notre Dame for an 85-84 overtime victory in the Players Era Festival.

The best-case scenario was that Rutgers basketball's stunning loss at Kennesaw State would serve as a wake-up call for a talented, youth-driven squad. Dylan Harper answered the alarm in resounding fashion Tuesday night.

Rutgers basketball lost its second game of the 2024-25 campaign, but Dylan Harper is transcending himself with another sensational outing.

When Rutgers and Notre Dame get together, 40 minutes in regulation is just not enough. It’s been two years since the Irish outlasted Rutgers in a high-scoring, overtime battle in the First Four of the NCAA Tournament.

“Only five D-I freshmen have had 36 points, six rebounds and six assists since 2010: Dylan Harper is the first since Trae Young in 2018,” Rutgers said in their postgame notes.