Princeton, N.J. (Nov. 12, 2010) – Senior point guard James Beatty (Wilmington, N.C.) scored 15 points on five-of-seven shooting and freshman wing Mike Poole (Rosedale, N.Y.) added 14 points on six-of-eight field goals in his first collegiate contest, but Rutgers (0-1) fell just short in a 78-73 overtime loss to Princeton (1-0) Friday evening at Jadwin Gymnasium. Sophomore Dane Miller (Rochester, N.Y.) posted 14 points and senior guard Mike Coburn (Mount Vernon, N.Y.) added 10 in a career-high 40 minutes in the hard-fought season opener that marked the first game at the helm for head coach Mike Rice.

Beatty was four-of six from behind the arc, while also dishing out a team-high four assists. He did not commit a turnover. Poole added to his evening with five steals, while Coburn contributed four thefts.

The Scarlet Knights had a chance to win the contest in regulation. Miller was whistled for an offensive foul, however, driving to the basket with just over one second remaining and the game went into overtime. In the extra stanza, the Tigers were a perfect eight-for-eight from the free throw line to ensure the win, while RU made just two of seven field goal attempts.

The Tigers jumped-out to a 10-2 lead early. Rutgers responded with a 13-5 run, capped by a Beatty three-pointer, to knot the score at 15. Princeton answered with a 15-2 surge to establish a 13-point (30-17) advantage, its largest of the game. Rutgers closed the first half well, scoring the final five points, to enter the locker room at the midpoint trailing 44-38.

The teams battled back-and forth in the second half, before the Scarlet Knights took its first lead of the night,57-56, on an Austin Johnson (Elkins, Park, Pa.) jumper to cap a seven-point run with 6:24 on the clock. Princeton scored the final three points in regulation, including a layup by Ian Hummer with 33 seconds remaining, to set-up the overtime.

Rutgers shot 49.2 percent (29-59), including five-of-15 (33.3 percent) from behind the arc. Princeton made 49.1 percent (26-53) of its field goals and nine-of-22 (40.9 percent) from long range. The Scarlet Knights struggled from the free throw line, shooting 55.6 percent (10-18), while the Tigers made 17-of-23 (73.9 percent) from the charity stripe. Princeton had a 36 to 28 advantage in rebounds.

Rutgers returns to the hardwood on Monday (Nov. 15) to host Fairfield in a 7:30 p.m. tip-off at the RAC. The game is one of three the Scarlet Knights will play in the Philly Hoop Group Challenge.

POSTGAME NOTES

• This is the first time since Nov. 22, 2004 Rutgers has opened on the road (73-71 win at Charlotte). It’s the third time since 2000 RU has started the season outside the RAC, with the other two contests in regular season tournaments.
• It marked the first time a Rutgers season-opener was decided in overtime since the Scarlet Knights defeated Rider 98-93 on November 29, 1986.
• The loss moved Rutgers all-time record in season openers to 72-27.
• The Scarlet Knights move to 44-73 all-time against the Tigers, but have won 10 of the last 12 meetings. Against the Ivy League, Rutgers moves to 78-131 all-time.  
• Of the last 12 meetings between the two squads, 11 have been decided by 10 points or less, including five games by five points or less and two by a basket.
• Freshman Mike Poole scored 14 points, including ten in the first half, in his first collegiate contest. He had a pair of three point plays in the opening half.
• Four Scarlet Knights scored in double-figures with James Beatty (15), Dane Miller (14), Mike Poole (14), and Mike Coburn (10) all scoring 10-plus. Last season, four players scored in double-digits eight times.  
• Rutgers went to overtime once last season (won against Rider, 80-70).
• Dane Miller notched double-figures for the 17^th time in his career. This was the fourth time in a Scarlet uniform that James Beatty notched 10-plus.  
• Mike Coburn played a career-high 40 minutes.
• Head coach Mike Rice went with the starting lineup of James Beatty, Dane Miller, Mike Coburn, Jonathan Mitchell and Gilvydas Biruta. The Scarlet Knights have started a freshman in 18-straight contests.
• Rutgers used 10 of its 12 available players in the contest.

POSTGAME QUOTES

Head coach Mike Rice

Opening Statement:

“I compare a lot of things to a boxing match. We got smacked a couple times. We got punched right in the jaw and we looked a little glassy-eyed, but they had a fight that I liked. We pressured better in the second half. We had more aggressiveness on the ball and I thought that helped our offense. We made some mistakes, but (Princeton) is a very good, talented team. Whenever we did make a defensive mistake, it ended up in (Dan) Mavraides hand. He certainly was wonderful tonight. We are going to play close games. I’m still learning. I could have went to Dane (Miller) here, I could have went to Jonathan Mitchell there, I could have went to Austin Johnson. I’m still figuring out, as the close games happen, who we should go to and what play to run. I take a little fault in this because maybe my play calling at the end should have been better. But again, we’re going to be in these games. We’re going to be in tight, close games and we will have to learn from these mistakes. We will have to learn from this game.”

On last possession in regulation:

“We had a play for Dane to post up. They were switching almost all the screens. We had Dane on (Brendan) Connolly. The play before, I thought Dane finally took the ball to the hole and was finally aggressive. I thought he made a good play. I was trying to get that and get Dane in an open space. They had two more fouls to give and I said, ‘look Dane, I want you to drop your head and go.’ He certainly dropped his head and went. Unfortunately, he went right through someone. They were in position. This is a well-coached team. The kid made a great play. Dane did exactly what I told him to do. I said, ‘Dane, put your head down and go.’ That’s what really talented players do.”

On what he would take back:

“We jump out of zone to man. The one (shot that Dan Mavraides hit) from the corner, where you all were shaking your head, thinking, ‘what are they going zone for right now?’ We were in man at that point when Mavraides hit the shot. I had a freshman (in the game). Mike Poole was unbelievable tonight. But we didn’t adjust perfectly and that’s my fault. That should have never been called. We should have stayed man because our man was good. I wanted to switch it up. Our zone was effective in getting us back in the game. We kept them off balance a little bit. That was one thing I’d like to have back.”