NEW YORK CITY (AP) -- Jonathan Mitchell scored 25 points, including eight free throws in overtime, to lead Rutgers to a 76-70 victory over Seton Hall on Tuesday in the opening round of the Big East tournament.
The 13th-seeded Scarlet Knights (15-16) will next play 17th-ranked and fifth-seeded St. John's on Wednesday.
Jeremy Hazell had 27 points for the 12th-seeded Pirates (13-18), including a 3-pointer with a second left in regulation that tied it 64-64.
Both teams had one field goal in the overtime, but Mitchell's 8-for-10 effort from the line was enough for Rutgers to end a three-game losing streak in the Big East tournament.
This was only the second time the conference's two New Jersey schools met in the tournament, with Rutgers winning both games.
Mike Coburn's two free throws with 8.9 seconds left in regulation gave Rutgers a 64-61 lead. Hazell hit his fourth 3 of the game to send the game to overtime.
James Beatty hit a jumper to give the Scarlet Knights a 66-64 lead with 3:30 to play.
After a turnover, Rutgers center Gilvydas Biruta grabbed the loose ball and was fouled. The officials reviewed the play and decided that Biruta had swung his elbows as he was being fouled and charged him with a contact deadball technical, his fifth personal.
Robert Lumpkins, an 89.5 percent free throw shooter, came in to shoot for Biruta and made one of two.
Seton Hall's Jordan Theodore made the two free throws off the technical to make it 67-66.
Freshman Fuquan Edwin made two free throws for Seton Hall with 2:14 left and that started a flurry of free throws that saw led to four lead changes in just over a minute.
Dane Miller made one of two to give Rutgers the lead for good at 71-70 with 55.2 seconds to play.
Seton Hall had four players foul out in the overtime.
Biruta and Beatty both had 12 points for the Scarlet Knights, who closed the regular season with five losses in six games. Miller had nine points and 11 rebounds.
Theodore had 14 points and five assists for the Pirates, who won their last two games of the regular season.
The teams split two regular-season meetings.
(Copyright ©2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
