PITTSBURGH, PA – Sophomore guard Dane Miller (Rochester, N.Y.) had his second straight double-double with 17 points and 10 rebounds to help Rutgers (6-2) to a 63-54 win over SEC-foe Auburn (3-5) Saturday afternoon at the Consol Energy Center in the SEC/BIG EAST Invitational. The Scarlet Knights out-rebounded the Tigers by a 46-33 margin and built a 20-2 advantage in second half points to earn the nationally-televised victory on ESPN2 and ESPN 3D.

Miller scored 12 of his points in the second half, as did senior forward Jonathan Mitchell (Mount Vernon, N.Y.). The duo combined to post 24 of RU’s 34 points after the break. Mitchell finished with 14 points and seven rebounds. Senior guard James Beatty (Wilmington, N.C.) completed a double-digits trifecta by scoring 13 points on four-of-seven shooting, including three-of-five from behind the arc.

Rutgers started the game in sluggish fashion, missing its initial 12 field goal attempts. The Tigers held an 11-4 advantage with 12:37 on the first half clock. The Scarlet Knights proceeded to go on a 15-0 run to take a 19-11 lead and never looked back. RU extended its advantage to 10 points (27-17) before taking a 29-24 edge into the locker room at the midpoint.

The Scarlet Knights scored the initial eight second half points. RU built its lead to 17 points on two occasions before Auburn deposited some late three-pointers to bring the game within seven (57-50) with 1:34 to go. RU made its free throws down the stretch to return the lead to double figures before the Tigers scored the final two points on free throws to register the 63-54 final.

Rutgers shot 84.2 percent (16-19) from the free throw line, its best performance from the charity stripe this season. Miller and Mitchell were both a perfect four-of-four from the line.

The Scarlet Knights return to the hardwood Tuesday (Dec. 14) to host Fairleigh Dickinson in a 7:30 p.m. tip-off at the RAC.

 Postgame Notes

• With the win and the 61-45 win over ACC foe Miami on Nov. 21, Rutgers defeats teams from multiple “Big Six/BCS” leagues in the regular season for the first time since Nov. 1999. That season, RU defeated Mississippi State 74-69 (SEC) and Nebraska 81-62 (Big 12) in consecutive days (11/27-28) in the USBMA Hoop & Quill Classic in St. Charles, Mo.
• The last time Rutgers earned multiple wins in the regular season against the “Big Six/BCS” was 2003, when RU downed Big Ten members Penn State (60-47, 12/10) and Northwestern (80-75, 12/27).
• Dane Miller tallied his second-straight double-double with 17 points and 10 rebounds. It was the fourth double-double of his career. The game marked the first time this season Miller has led the team in scoring (fourth overall). He scored 12 points in the second half. The sophomore dished out a season-high tying four assists. 
• Jonathan Mitchell notched the 28^thdouble-digit game of his career with 14 points (12 in the second stanza), adding seven rebounds.  
• James Beatty tallied his third double-digit scoring effort of the season, sixth for his career, with 13 points on 4-for-7 shooting. 
• Three RU players scored in double-figures for the fifth time this season with Miller, Mitchell and Beatty. Rutgers is 4-1 when that happens.  
• The RU defense held its fourth opponent to below 31 percent shooting (30.2) from the floor.
• Dane Miller and Jonathan Mitchell combined for 24 of Rutgers’ 34 second half points.
• Rutgers dominated the second chance points, 20-2. The Scarlet Knights grabbed 17 offensive rebounds (46 overall) to the Tigers’ nine (33 overall). The 46 rebounds and 13-board differential marked season highs for Rutgers. 
• Austin Carroll tied his career high with five points. 
• Rutgers came out strong in the second half, holding Auburn to 1-of-8 shooting and three turnovers to take a 39-27 lead with 14:32 to go.
• After not hitting a field goal in the last two games, James Beatty came out hot – going 3-3 from behind the arc. The senior finished 4-for-7 from the floor for the game.
• The Scarlet Knights got down early, facing an 11-4 deficit with 12:37 to go in the first half. RU rattled off a 15-0 run as the defense forced nine-straight Auburn misses and Rutgers took a 19-11 lead with 8:41 to go before the break. 
• Head coach Mike Rice went with the starting lineup of James Beatty, Mike Coburn, Dane Miller, Jonathan Mitchell and Gilvydas Biruta for the eighth time this season. The Scarlet Knights have started a freshman in 25-straight contests.