Rutgers University
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Dartmouth
Rutgers Overcomes Halftime Deficit to Defeat Dartmouth 55-50
Nov 20 | Men's Basketball
PISCATAWAY, N.J. - Junior forward Jaron Griffin (Manchester, N.J.) scored 11 points to help lead the Scarlet Knights (4-1) to a 55-50 comeback victory over visiting Dartmouth (1-3) Tuesday evening at the RAC. Anthony Farmer (Millville, N.J.) complemented Griffin's scoring touch, adding 10 points, the fourth straight game he has scored in double-figures, tying a career-high.
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Jaron Griffin finished with a team-high 11 points. Photo by Jim O'Connor |
The first half started well for the Scarlet Knights. In just two minutes and five seconds Hamady Ndiaye (Dakar, Senegal) had six points on three dunks to help give RU an 8-3 lead. Rutgers would use a 9-2 run to go up 17-8 with 9:19 to go in the stanza. But Dartmouth would battle back, going on an 18-4 run to head into the locker room with a 30-21 halftime lead. Junior forward Alex Barnett paced the Big Green with nine points on 3 of 5 shooting.
In the second half, however, Rutgers mounted their comeback. Trailing by nine, the Scarlet Knights put together a 5-0 run to cut the lead to four with 18:27 to play. Dartmouth would maintain its four-point lead until Mike Coburn (Mt. Vernon, N.Y.) found Griffin under the basket on an inbounds play. Griffin made the basket and was fouled, hitting the free throw to bring RU to within one, at 34-35.
After Farmer tied the game at 41 with a steal and a layup, RU took the lead for good when Ndiayeput back a Farmer missed free throw to give the Scarlet Knights a 43-41 edge at the 7:34 mark. Ndiaye had nine rebounds in the game, setting a new career-high.
"Hamady did a great job for us," said Hill. "In 20 minutes he had nine rebounds, eight points and four blocks. That's pretty impressive."
The nine point halftime Dartmouth lead marked the largest halftime deficit Rutgers has been able to overcome since they came back from an 11 point halftime deficit and defeated Charlotte 73-71 on Nov. 22, 2004.
The Scarlet Knights next take to the hardwood on Sunday, Nov. 23, when they face St. Peter's at 2:00 p.m. at the Jersey City Armory.
POSTGAME NOTES
The nine point halftime Dartmouth lead marked the largest halftime deficit Rutgers has been able to overcome since they came back from an 11 point halftime deficit and defeated Charlotte 73-71 on Nov. 22, 2004.
Rutgers now takes a 2-1 lead in the all-time series with Dartmouth. The two teams had not met since Jan. 4, 1968, when RU defeated the Big Green 79-52.
With 10 points against Dartmouth, Anthony Farmer (Millville, N.J.) has scored in double-figures in four straight games, matching his career-high. He previously scored in double-figures in four straight games during the 2005-06 season.
Jaron Griffin (Manchester, N.J.) scored in double figures for the third time this season and the 19th time in his career. He led the team in scoring for the first time this season and the fifth time of his career.
JR Inman (Pomona, N.Y.) grabbed 12 rebounds, marking the second time he has grabbed 10 or more rebounds this season, and the seventh time in his career. He has led the team in rebounding four times this season and 21 times in his career. Inman was one point away from a double-double.
Inman's career rebounding averaged jumped to 6.6 with his 12-rebound effort. He remains in 24th place on the Rutgers all-time career-rebounding average chart, closing in on Dave Stires and Steve Kaplan, who each averaged 6.7 rebounds per game for their career.
Inman blocked one shot against Dartmouth, giving him 75 for his career, good for 14th place on the Rutgers all-time blocked shots list. In 13th place is Mike Jones with 77 blocks.
Hamady Ndiaye (Dakar, Senegal) set a new career-high with nine rebounds. His previous career-high was eight rebounds, set twice, most recently against North Carolina Central on Nov. 12, 2007.
Ndiaye tied his career-high in field-goals made (4) and field-goals attempted (5), the third time he has accomplished each feat.
Ndiaye's four blocks marks the fourth time this season he has had four or more blocks in a game, and the ninth time in his career.
Ndiaye moves into 15th place on the Rutgers all-time blocked shots list with 68. In 14th place with 75 blocks is teammate JR Inman.
Byron Joynes (Baltimore, Md.) had a career-high four blocks against Dartmouth, marking the first time this season and the sixth time in his career he blocked three or more shots.
Joynes grabbed eight rebounds, giving him 416 for his career and moving him into 39th place on the Rutgers all-time rebounds list. Next up is Chuck Weiler with 443.
FRED HILL POSTGAME QUOTES
Opening Remarks:
"It wasn't pretty, that's for sure. The thing that I'm happy about is that we won. Even though we played about as poorly as I think you can play, we found a way to win. Other than that, I think Dartmouth played harder than us. I think they we tougher than us, they out-scrapped us and really they deserved to win the game. This is one of those where talent won out and we were very, very fortunate."
"We got a great defensive effort and that's what won the game for us. It certainty wasn't our offense or offensive execution. We didn't shoot the ball well, we were terrible at the free-throw line, and we couldn't knock down an open three. They played zone and gave us great looks and we weren't able to knock any down."
On Hamady Ndiaye's play:
"I thought he was terrific. He played great at Florida. The people that had the opportunity to see the game could really start to see the improvement. It's my job to get him minutes and keep him on the floor."
"Hamady did a great job for us and that's two games back-to-back. In 20 minutes he had nine rebounds, eight points and four blocks in half a game. That's pretty impressive."
On Corey Chandler:
"Corey played like a typical freshman tonight. His first three games he didn't look like a typical freshman. But certainly tonight he played like a typical freshman and that's going to happen. We talked about it and it's over and done. I expect those nights and it's going to happen."
On Mike Coburn:
"Mike's been getting better every game, too. You can see Mike's poise, leadership and his understanding. He's a winner. In a tough situation when we were struggling, I thought he was the guy that made two big plays."
"I had him out there at the end of the game, put the ball in his hands. I'm not afraid to do that and certainly today he responded. He's growing every day and that's all we ask out of our kids, is to get better and grow everyday."
On Dartmouth's play:
"I give all the credit to Dartmouth, they played harder than us'?They were tough. They came out with energy, enthusiasm, toughness and they played harder than we did."
Dartmouth Head Coach Terry Dunn:
On the game overall: "I thought we played hard, I thought we executed. We had ourselves in a little foul trouble. We went small, and sometimes you prepare for a team and go with a different lineup, but sometimes it's a tough match-up for the other team."
On allowing RU to break away: "Well, for one thing it's the rebounding count. We were even at the half and got out-redounded (49-31) in the game. Second-chance points and transition points were a big part of them first taking the lead and then pulling away."
Feelings on Dartmouth's effort: "There's no such thing as a moral victory. I'm proud of our effort, but not satisfied with the end result."
Feelings on Rutgers: "I had a chance to see Rutgers on tape and I'm impressed with them, in the sense that Rutgers had everything to lose and nothing to gain. I'm not one to ever gloat over a loss, so I think Rutgers won the game and I think they finished the game. If we're talking about a Rutgers loss and a Dartmouth victory, then I think we'd be saying something different about both teams but it just didn't happen. I give credit to them for catching up and going ahead and finishing the game. That's what good teams do and I think they'll be fine in the BIG EAST."
On what can be taken from this game: "I'm proud of the fact that our defense was pretty good tonight. Our second-effort was pretty good, our third effort. I thought we executed well, but we missed an awful lot of easy lay-ups that I call chippies. I guess the word for that is that we didn't finish. We didn't finish the game and we didn't finish some shots and that was huge. Also, our inability to get to the free throw line was also a part of this, and their ability to get to the line was big, as well."
