NEWARK — Down the stretch they came, like two sprinters gunning for a finish line, throwing elbows and battling for position, the intensity of head-to-head competition dripping from their respective jerseys. That Seton Hall would ultimately break the basketball tape against Rutgers provided the news headline from Friday night’s Garden State Hardwood Classic at Newark’s Prudential Center. But even after a 72-61 Pirates win, this was not a night to focus on the outcome.

It was about the atmosphere.

It was about New Jersey pride.

It was about a sold-out building pulsing with energy.

It was about swaths of blue-clad Seton Hall fans coming alive late to drown out the pesky stripes of red-suited Rutgers supporters.

It was about a first-year coach at Rutgers proving he’s more than ready to make this game interesting for the seven-year vet on the other bench, about Steve Pikiell joining the rivalry with Kevin Willard not as a victor, but as a worthy competitor.

"We proved that we're the best team in New Jersey," said forward Angel Delgado, who had 19 points and 16 rebounds to earn the game's MVP trophy. "[But] they beat me up. That coach [is] really doing a really good job. I really got a lot of respect for Rutgers now because they showed us that they can beat us. I wish them the best."

It was about two in-state rivals providing the first believable look in years that this rivalry can actually continue with two top tier programs, an annual Big East-Big Ten showcase for Turnpike rivals that suddenly feels as alive as it has ever been.

“I think this is a great game, I think it’s great for New Jersey,” Pikiell said, still grim-faced after his team ran out of gas down the stretch, still smarting from watching a 32-29 halftime lead fall apart as his defense slowed, his offense disappeared, and his front court was swallowed by Delgado and Co. “I think they saw a good basketball game, saw good players; I’m disappointed we lost. I look forward to playing them next year, getting them in our gym.”

This was about taking note of what is going on in local college hoops, where two teams came into the game a combined 21-3, two teams came into the game on matching five-game winning streaks, two teams came into the game convinced they would dominate (Seton Hall) or surprise (Rutgers) and somehow managing to make both come true. Rutgers silenced predictions of a blowout by charging out of the starting blocks, displaying the brand of energetic, effort-laden defense that has quickly become a hallmark. But the Pirates Seton Hallwarded off the potential upset by flashing the poise and experience befitting a defending Big East tournament team, leaving no doubt down the stretch that they would pull it out.

“I thought it was a good basketball game, for a little bit anyways, but we have a lot of respect for Seton Hall. That’s a good team,” Pikiell said. “We’re close, though. We’re close. We got to learn how to finish things up. I got to do a better job preparing these guys for what to do down the stretch. Again, good job to Seton Hall. But we’re going to get there, too. We’ll get there, too.

“We showed some good signs today. People have a lot of questions about us, which is fine. I like this team. We’re going to get better. … People saw good basketball tonight. I watched the last two games we played against Seton Hall. I think people enjoyed this. We’ll be back. We’ll be back next time. We’re going to continue to get better, continue to recruit, and be a presence here in New Jersey. I’m confident we’re going to get better. We’ve come a long way in a short time. I look forward to coming back and playing Seton Hall and making this a great rivalry again.”

The one person you might have expected to disagree with him didn’t, with Willard instead echoing the recent sentiment of Fairleigh Dickinson University head coach Greg Herenda, promising the tax-paying citizens of New Jersey that their money is well-spent on the state university’s new coach.

“I’m a fan of Steve, a good friend of his. I want them to do well, it’s good for the state,” Willard said. “It’s much different now [that we’re not in the same league]. It’s great. I said it, too, I think it’s great that Monmouth and Princeton are good. I think the more teams that are good in this area, the more local kids will say this is a really good [place] to play basketball. As crazy as it sounds, I want St. John’s to do well. The more attention we get, the more it benefits everyone.”

But he was particularly supportive of Rutgers, whose athletic director Pat Hobbs hired Willard back when Hobbs worked at Seton Hall, whose hiring of Pikiell is already paying dividends.

“It’s night and day,” Willard said, recalling recent matchups with Eddie Jordan’s listless teams. “I think Steve has done — I looked around the country the other day — I think Steve has done as good a job as anybody in the country. I think Pat hired a great guy. As a taxpayer I’m rooting for him.”