Put the questions to rest. Shelve the doubt. End the debate.

Rutgers basketball did what everyone asked Saturday — it beat Purdue on the road, with the chips piled high — and the Scarlet Knights should see their named called on Selection Sunday for the first time since 1991.

They prevailed 71-68 in overtime.

It happened in the most scintillating fashion imaginable.

Rutgers guard Geo Baker hit a turn-around 15-footer with 15 seconds left to give the Scarlet Knights a one-point lead.

Purdue’s Eric Hunter got fouled on the other end with 2.7 ticks left, made the first and missed the second, forcing the extra session.

Then Baker took over. The junior finished with 19 points on 8-of-14 shooting and added six rebounds and three assists.

Rutgers (20-11 overall, 11-9 Big Ten) posted its first winning season in conference play since going 14-4 in the Atlantic 10 in 1991 — the last year the Scarlet Knights made the Big Dance. The Scarlet Knights will face Michigan in the 8-9 game of the Big Ten Tournament Thursday at noon.

Purdue (16-15, 9-10) got swept by Rutgers for the first time. The Boilermakers had beaten the Scarlet Knights by average of 28 points in the last three meetings at Mackey Arena.

THREE THOUGHTS

1. The dream is realized. Yes, there was a break from the basketball Gods in the form of a missed free throw, which Rutgers certainly has earned after years of gut-punches. Bottom line: The Scarlet Knights put together an NCAA Tournament campaign in a season most people thought would end in the NIT. What a coaching job by Steve Pikiell; how is he not a finalist for Naismith Coach of the Year?

2. Geo Baker, take a bow. He was the first to believe in Pikiell’s message. He had saved three games already this season with last-minute heroics. And of course he hit the shot of the year against Purdue. He’ll have a high place in Rutgers athletics lore. It adds to the legend that Baker was the 414th-ranked recruit in his class. Pikiell certainly did this his way.

3. No road jitters. After four straight banana-peel starts on the road, the Scarlet Knights got the start they needed. Credit the team’s most experienced player, Akwasi Yeboah, for finding the net early and setting the tone. Mackey Arena is widely recognized as one of the toughest road venues in the Big Ten. If Rutgers can win there, it can win anywhere over the next few weeks.

THREE QUOTES

(From the postgame radio interview with Jerry Recco and Joe Boylan)

1. Steve Pikiell: “This league being as good as it is, and of course we had the toughest schedule in the country down the stretch, we stayed the course. Proud of these guys. Proud of the sacrifices they’ve made. Proud of the journey they’ve taken to raise Rutgers basketball up. These guys deserve all the credit.”

2. Geo Baker on the step back: “I really just try to get guys off balance. With the step-back it’s about creating space and trying to get the defender out of rhythm. Today it was falling. Look, I don’t know how I did it; I’m tired right now. I just tried to find the energy to win."

3. Baker on the moment: "This is a great group of guys. Everyone was sacrificing. We made every winning play and came out on top. The emotions right now — if you saw our locker room right now it’s absolutely nuts.”

Jerry Carino has covered the New Jersey sports scene since 1996 and the college basketball beat since 2003. He is an Associated Press Top 25 voter. Contact him at jcarino@gannettnj.com.