Dylan Harper Stats Tonight: How did Rutgers freshman fare vs Kennesaw State? (Nov 24)

Rutgers freshman sensation Dylan Harper delivered a standout performance against Kennesaw State on Sunday. But it still wasn’t enough to secure a win as the No. 24 Scarlet Knights suffered their first loss of the season, falling 79-77 to the Owls at the KSU Convocation Center.

Harper shined despite the Scarlet Knights’ failed comeback in a chaotic and challenging atmosphere. The 6-foot-6 guard posted an impressive stat line of 21 points, three rebounds, nine assists, and two steals while shooting 10-for-18 from the field. Harper showed remarkable composure late in the game, consistently attacking the basket.

Rutgers, trailing by as much as 21 early in the second half, spent the remainder of the game chipping away at Kennesaw State’s lead. Harper spearheaded the rally, recording 17 points and five assists in 18 minutes of the second half.

His clutch play, including a critical layup that cut the deficit to 79-77 with 15 seconds left, gave Rutgers a chance. However, the Owls held on as a turnover by Ace Bailey in the final seconds sealed the outcome.

This marked Dylan Harper’s fourth consecutive 20-point performance to start the season. Just last Monday, he became the first Rutgers player to earn Big Ten Freshman of the Week honors since his brother, Ron Harper Jr., achieved the feat in March 2019.

Dylan Harper projected as top-five pick in 2025 NBA Draft

Freshman guard Dylan Harper is projected to be an early lottery pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. Bleacher Report's latest mock draft released last week has Harper at No. 3, while NBADraft.net has him at No. 4. He has drawn comparisons to New York Knicks star Jalen Brunson.

Harper’s potential was on full display against Kennesaw State. A key halftime adjustment focused on getting Harper into the lane and attacking the rim, a strategy that came too late but proved effective after Rutgers fell behind 44-26 at halftime.

After scoring just 10 points in the paint during the first half, Harper was instrumental in helping Rutgers rack up 24 paint points in the second. He also recorded a game-high nine assists, contributing to 60% of the team’s 15 total assists.

Rutgers struggled from beyond the arc, shooting just 8-of-25 (32%), a performance unlikely to have been part of the game plan. Kennesaw State controlled much of the game, leading by as many as 21 points and holding the advantage for all but the opening seven minutes.

Next up, Dylan Harper and the Scarlet Knights head to Las Vegas to face Notre Dame in Tuesday's Players Era Thanksgiving Festival. Meanwhile, Kennesaw State will host UC Irvine on Thursday.