Live-Blogging Shish on College Basketball-2022 NCAA MBK Play-In Game-Notre Dame Fighting Irish vs. Rutgers Scarlet Knights

Hello, and welcome to another edition of ‘Live-Blogging Shish on College Basketball’. Tonight, it is the 2022 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament Play-In (aka First Four) Game, between Notre Dame Fighting Irish and Rutgers Scarlet Knights.

Irish are thankful that The Tournament Committee believed their victory over Kentucky was stronger than their loss to Texas A&M in the Maui Invitational. It also helped that Virginia Tech won the ACC Tournament as the Hokies defeated the Irish in the ACC Quarterfinals.

Losing to the eventual conference tournament champion also helped Rutgers. Scarlet Knights lost to Iowa, who won the Big Ten Tournament. It also helped Rutgers that they were 6-6 in games against Quadrant 1.

So, the winner of this play-in game, will take on Alabama in the West Region.

Irish are led by Blake Wesley in scoring. While Paul Atkinson, Junior leads Notre Dame in rebounding. And Prentiss Hubb leads the South Bend school in assists.


As for the Scarlet Knights, they are led by Ron Harper, Junior in scoring. While Clifford Omoruyi leads Rutgers in rebounding. And Paul Mulcahy leads the Piscataway University in assists.

It is Notre Dame Fighting Irish and Rutgers Scarlet Knights, coming up shortly.

Possible Starting Lineups:
Notre Dame Fighting Irish:
G: B. Wesley
G: P. Hubb
G: C. Ryan
F: P. Atkinson, Jr.
F: N. Laszewski

Rutgers Scarlet Knights:
G: G. Baker
G: C. McConnell
G: P. Mulcahy
F: R. Harper, Jr.
C: C. Omoruyi​

2022 NCAA MBK Play-In Game: Notre Dame Fighting Irish vs. Rutgers Scarlet Knights

Irish are in their navy uniforms, with gold characters. While Scarlet Knights are in their

1st Half:
20:00: Knights win tipoff. Rutgers to attack the right basket. While Notre Dame to attack the left basket and have the possession arrow, in their favor.
19:41: Omoruyi with a jump shot. ND 0, RUT 2
18:28: Atkinson with a layup and foul. Atkinson missed a free throw. ND 2, RUT 2
17:38: Harper nails a jump shot. ND 2, RUT 4
17:16: Atkinson with a FG. ND 4, RUT 4
16:49: McConnell with a FG. ND 4, RUT 6
15:48: Omoruyi with an alley-oop. Baker with an assist. ND 4, RUT 8
15:24: Atkinson makes a finger-roll layup. ND 6, RUT 8
14:45: Ryan nails a 3-point FG. ND 9, RUT 8
14:18: Baker drills a 3-point FG. ND 9, RUT 11
13:55: Ryan with a layup. ND 11, RUT 11
13:33: Hubb makes a layup. ND 13, RUT 11
12:47: Wesley makes a layup. ND 15, RUT 11
12:25: Harper with a layup. ND 15, RUT 13
12:05: Atkinson gets a layup. ND 17, RUT 13
11:57: McConnell makes a FG and foul. ND 17, RUT 15
11:57: T.V. Timeout #1: ND 17, RUT 15

Last Year, I Live-Blogged Drake's 53-52 Play-In Game Victory Over Wichita State 

11:57: McConnell with a free throw. ND 17, RUT 16
11:30: McConnell drains a jump shot. ND 17, RUT 18
10:48: Laszewski gets a 3-point FG. ND 20, RUT 18
10:11: Goodwin with a layup. ND 22, RUT 18
9:51: McConnell with a 3-point FG. ND 22, RUT 21
9:35: T.V. Timeout #2: ND 22, RUT 21

Earlier Today, Wright State Defeated Bryant to advance to Round of 64​ 

9:26: Atkinson with a FG and foul. Atkinson missed a free throw. ND 24, RUT 21
9:05: McConnell gets a layup. ND 24, RUT 23
8:13: Wesley makes a layup. ND 26, RUT 23
7:49: Harper with a layup. ND 26, RUT 25
7:26: Laszewski draws a goaltend. ND 28, RUT 25
7:26: T.V. Timeout #3: ND 28, RUT 25

6:58: McConnell nails a fadeaway jump shot. ND 28, RUT 27
6:22: Harper buries a 3-point FG. ND 28, RUT 30
6:02: Atkinson with a rebound and hook shot. ND 30, RUT 30
5:37: McConnell with a rebound and layup. ND 30, RUT 32
5:12: Harper makes a layup. ND 30, RUT 34
4:19: Mulcahy with a jump shot. ND 30, RUT 36
4:09: IRISH TIMEOUT #1: ND 30, RUT 36

​​4:01: Laszewski with a layup and foul. Laszewski missed a free throw. ND 32, RUT 36
4:01: Knights have 5 team fouls.
3:16: Atkinson with a layup. ND 34, RUT 36
2:29: T.V. Timeout #4: ND 34, RUT 36

​2:05: Baker nails a 3-point FG. ND 34, RUT 39
2:05: SCARLET KNIGHTS TIMEOUT #1: ND 34, RUT 39
:53: Atkinson makes a layup. ND 36, RUT 39
:01: McConnell with a layup before the buzzer. ND 36, RUT 41
:00: The End of 1st Half. Notre Dame to inbound to start the 2nd Half.

Halftime:
ND 36, RUT 41

Halftime Leaders:
Scoring: McConnell (RUT) 18 points 
Rebounding: Atikinson (ND) 4 rebounds
Assists: Hubb (ND) 5 assists

Halftime Thoughts:
A high scoring 1st Half. Scarlet Knights' 11-2 run has been the difference in this half. 

2nd Half:
20:00: Irish to inbound to start the 2nd Half. Notre Dame to defend the right basket. While Rutgers to defend the left basket and have the possession arrow, in their favor. 
19:16: Harper buries a 3-point FG. ND 36, RUT 44
18:40: Atkinson makes a FG. ND 38, RUT 44
17:53: Laszewski makes both free throws. ND 40, RUT 44
16:41: Ryan makes a jump shot. ND 42, RUT 44
16:11: Omoruyi with an alley-oop. Baker with an assist. ND 42, RUT 46
15:46: T.V. Timeout #5: ND 42, RUT 46

Back in 2018, I Live-Blogged Syracuse 57-52 Victory Over TCU 

15:34: McConnell with a jump shot. ND 42, RUT 48
15:09: Hubb with a layup. ND 44, RUT 48
14:46: Harper with a tipin. ND 44, RUT 50
13:50: Ryan buries a 3-point FG. ND 47, RUT 50
13:23: Omoruyi makes 1 of 2 free throws. ND 47, RUT 51
13:13: Goodwin nails a 3-point FG. ND 50, RUT 51
11:45: T.V. Timeout #6: ND 50, RUT 51

Tomorrow, Kentucky, UCLA, and Kansas Are The Feature Schools in the NCAA Round of 64

​​11:45: Baker makes both free throws. ND 50, RUT 53
11:45: Irish has 5 team fouls. 
10:46: Hubb makes 1 of 2  free throws. ND 51, RUT 53
10:00: Ryan with a layup. ND 53, RUT 53
9:07: Wesley makes a layup. ND 55, RUT 53
8:56: SCARLET KNIGHTS TIMEOUT #2: ND 55, RUT 53
​8:48: Mulcahy with a 3-point FG. ND 55, RUT 56
8:27: Laszewski nails a 3-point FG. ND 58, RUT 56
7:22: Omoruyi with an alley-oop. Harper with an assist. ND 58, RUT 58
6:52: Ryan with a fadeaway jump shot. ND 60, RUT 58
6:08: Goodwin makes a layup and foul. ND 62, RUT 58
6:08: T.V. Timeout #7: ND 62, RUT 58

​6:08: Goodwin makes a free throw. ND 63, RUT 58
5:40: Both teams have 5 fouls.
5:17: Rutgers are in the Bonus.
4:59: Omoruyi with a dunk. ND 63, RUT 60
4:40: Wesley missed both free throws. 
4:40: Both teams are in the Bonus.
4:06: Baker makes a jump shot. ND 63, RUT 62
4:06: SCARLET KNIGHTS TIMEOUT #3: ND 63, RUT 62

3:42: Laszewski makes both free throws. ND 65, RUT 62
3:26: Baker with a layup. ND 65, RUT 64
3:00: Atkinson nails a layup. ND 67, RUT 64
2:36: Baker hits a 3-point FG. ND 67, RUT 67
2:02: Laszewski with a rebound and jump shot. ND 69, RUT 67
2:00: IRISH TIMEOUT #2: ND 69, RUT 67
​1:47: Baker makes a jump shot. ND 69, RUT 69
:59.7: IRISH TIMEOUT #3: ND 69, RUT 69
:00: Baker missed a buzzer beater. The End of Regulation.

End of Regulation:
ND 69, RUT 69

Overtime:
​5:00: Knights win tipoff, attacking the left basket. While Irish attacking the right basket and have the possession arrow, in their favor. Both teams are in the Bonus.
4:43: Goodwin makes 1 of 2 free throws. ND 70, RUT 69
4:15: Omoruyi with a jam. ND 70, RUT 71
3:23: IRISH TIMEOUT #1: ND 70, RUT 71
3:00: SCARLET KNIGHTS TIMEOUT: ND 70, RUT 71
2:39: Baker hits a fadeaway jump shot. ND 70, RUT 73
2:10: Goodwin nails a 3-point FG. ND 73, RUT 73
1:52: Harper commits an offensive foul. 
1:52: Irish is in the Double Bonus.
1:34: Laszewski with a layup. ND 75, RUT 73
1:12: Baker missed a free throw. 
:49.0: Harper drills a bank shot 3-point FG. ND 75, RUT 76
:28.2: OFFICIAL REVIEW: Officials reviewing last possession. Rutgers Ball.
:25.5: Ryan with a steal and layup. ND 77, RUT 76
:19.0: SCARLET KNIGHTS FINAL TIMEOUT: ND 77, RUT 76
:08.6: Mulcahy with a 3-point FG. ND 77, RUT 79
:02.7: Wesley nails a layup. ND 79, RUT 79
:00: The End of Overtime

End of Overtime:
ND 79, RUT 79

2nd Overtime:
​5:00: Rutgers wins tipoff. Knight to attack the left basket. While Irish to attack the right basket and have the possession arrow, in their favor. Irish is in the Double Bonus and Rutgers is in the Bonus.
4:36: Omoruyi with a dunk. ND 79, RUT 81
4:07: Hubb with a layup. ND 81, RUT 81
2:35: Atkinson with a rebound and a jam. ND 83, RUT 81
1:37: McConnell drains a 3-point FG. ND 83, RUT 84
1:22: Atkinson makes a layup. ND 85, RUT 84
1:22: IRISH TIMEOUT #1: ND 85, RUT 84
:40.9: Hubb makes both free throws. ND 87, RUT 84
:40.9: IRISH FINAL TIMEOUT: ND 87, RUT 84
:22.0: Harper with a Steph Curry 3-point FG. ND 87, RUT 87
:01.4: Atkinson with a rebound and layup. ND 89, RUT 87
:00: The End of Game.

Final/2OT:
ND 89, RUT 87

Fighting Irish advances to NCAA MBK Round of 64.

Final Leaders:
Scoring: Atkinson (ND) 26 points
Rebounding: McConnell (RUT) 11 rebounds
Assists: Hubb (ND) 7 assists

Final Thoughts:
A hard fought game by both teams. Irish clamped down on defense in the 2nd Half and Overtimes. They forced 13 Scarlet Knights Turnovers. For the Knights, a tough loss. Hopefully for the New Jersey school, they can return to the NCAA Tournament for next year.

Irish will head to San Diego, to face Alabama on Friday Afternoon. 

This is Paul Shishkoff, Junior. This has been 'Live-Blogging Shish on College Basketball'. Thanks for visiting this page.