Rutgers University
Syracuse
Rutgers Suffers Hard-Fought OT Loss at 17/20 Syracuse
Feb 19 | Men's Basketball
SYRACUSE, N.Y. – Rutgers senior guard Mike Coburn (Mount Vernon, N.Y.) shot seven-of-12 to score a season-high tying 18 points in a hard-fought 84-80 overtime loss to No. 17/20 Syracuse (22-6, 9-6) Saturday afternoon before 28,944 fans at the Carrier Dome. The Scarlet Knights were unable to overcome a free throw disparity that saw the Orange attempt 47 (34-47) from the charity stripe, while RU shot 33 fewer (9-14) in a game that featured 14 lead changes and 10 ties.
Rutgers (13-13, 4-10) had the ball for the final possession of regulation with an opportunity to earn their first win at Syracuse since 1975, but a three pointer by James Beatty (Wilmington, N.C.) was off the mark and sent the contest into extra time. In the additional stanza, the Orange scored nine (9-14) of their 14 points from the foul line, while also out-rebounding RU by a 9-3 margin, to escape with the victory.
Senior forward Jonathan Mitchell (Mount Vernon, N.Y.) and freshman forward Gilvydas Biruta (Jonava, Lithuania) had strong games once again for the Scarlet Knights. Mitchell had 13 points and seven rebounds. Biruta made three-of-five field goals to score 12 points while also grabbing eight boards.
Rutgers had 17 assists, including a game-high six helpers by Coburn, and forced 14 Syracuse turnovers. As a result, the Scarlet Knights out-scored the Orange 22-10 in points off turnovers.
Both team shot the ball well in the opening half. The Orange made 58.3 percent (14-24) of their field goals, while Rutgers deposited 54.5 percent (18-33) of its shots. Despite the home squad shooting a higher percentage, the Scarlet Knights took a 44-43 advantage into the locker room at the midpoint. A trey by Coburn as time expired provided the visitors additional confidence and momentum entering the break.
After the half, a defensive struggle ensued and shooting percentages dropped. Rutgers shot 10-26 (38.5 percent) to finish the game at 45.6 percent (31-68) from the field. Syracuse made just six of 22 field goals (27.3 percent) to complete the afternoon shooting 43.1 percent (22-51).
The Scarlet Knights return to the hardwood Tuesday (Feb. 22) evening to host No. 16 Louisville in a 9 p.m. tip-off at the RAC. The game will be televised live nationally in high definition on ESPNU.
Postgame Notes
- The contest marked the second overtime game of the season for Rutgers and first since the Nov. 12 opening match against Princeton. Rutgers moves to 0-2 with extra time.
- With six assists, Mike Coburn moves within two of Damon Santiago (350, 1991-96) for No. 5 all-time in the Rutgers record book with 348 career helpers.
- With two steals, Coburn moves over the century mark with 101 career steals. He also moves within one of Andrew Kolbasovsky (1992-96) for No. 21 all-time in the Rutgers record book.
- Coburn notched double-figures for the 10thtime this season with 18 points. The senior had 12 points on 5-of-6 shooting (including 2-for-2 from three) in the first half. It was the first time since against Pittsburgh on Jan. 29 Coburn has tallied 10-plus.
- It marked the first time Coburn has solely led the Scarlet Knights since at Monmouth on Dec. 18.
- Jonathan Mitchell scored double-figures for the 20thtime this season, 43rdgame in his career with 13 points.
- It was the 10th-straight game Mitchell has posted 10-plus.
- Gilvydas Biruta posted double-figures for the 14thtime this season with 12 points. It marked the first time the freshman has notched back-to-back double-digit outings since Marquette and Providence (Jan. 5-8).
- Austin Carroll broke his career high for the second-straight game with nine points and three treys made.
- The Scarlet Knights move to 10-6 this season when three or more players score in double-figures.
- Rutgers made nine more field goals, including three more three point field goals, but could not overcome the free throw disparity. Syracuse went 34-47 from the free throw line, while RU went 9-14. The 47 free throws taken by an opponent was a season high for the Scarlet Knights.
- The Orange came into the game averaging 13.6 fast break points per game. The Scarlet Knights held SU to four fast break points for the game, including none in the second half.
- The RU defense held backcourt starters Scoop Jardine and Bradon Triche to .280 percent from the field. Jardine came into the game shooting at a .406 clip and Triche hits .455 percent of his shots.
- Rutgers moves to 9-37 all-time against Syracuse, including 0-13 at the Carrier Dome.
- After SU started out the half on a 9-for-10 and 12-for-15 shooting tear from the floor, the RU defense clamped down to hold the Orange to 2-for-9 over the final 5:49 of the first half.
- For just the third time this season, both RU and its opponent shot over 50 percent for the first half. The Scarlet Knights shot 18-33 (.545) and the Orange shot 14-24 (.583).
- Of the nine players that saw action, all nine had at least four points with five players notching nine-plus.
- Austin Johnson was the first sub off the bench for the 21sttime this season.
- Johnson took his eighth charge of the season at the 2:07 mark in overtime.
- When taking a charge, the Scarlet Knights are 12-6 on the year.
Postgame Quotes
Head Coach Mike Rice
On the free throw disparity:
“It is going to be a disparity with our formula. These are BIG EAST referees. They are supposed to be the best in the country and I have to believe that those are the calls. When I look at the film, I’m sure I will see a lot of missed block outs and a lot of fouls that will make me scratch my head. That is part of the game. We just have to do a better job.”
On the last play of regulation:
“We wanted two high ball screens and Dane (Miller) in the short corner. I wanted a shot. In hindsight, I liked that he was aggressive stepping up but he had a wide open man in the short corner. We wanted him to come off of two ball screens. They took away the slip and it left JB and Dane wide open.”
On Rick Jackson and Gilvydas Biruta having four fouls at the end of regulation:
“It seemed like that. We went to Gilvydas on the second possession and Rick did a great job of standing straight up. I thought we did at times, but any time they got the ball underneath it seemed to be a foul. That is Gilvydas being a freshman. He has to move his feet a little bit more and attack him a little bit more. These refs are the best refs in the country.”
On getting down but not giving up in the second half:
“(It was) tremendous. I see the fight. I see the heart and the toughness everyday in this team. The building is going nuts, you can’t hear yourself think and we had such poise and calmness about us in our attack that they deserved (to come back). They’re going to win games down the stretch because we’re a better team now and we’re improving. You just can’t (get beat on) rebounding and free throws. Again, it’s the same thing that happened against Pitt and Notre Dame.”
On penetrating the zone:
“Yes (that was the game plan). We put Mike Coburn in the paint. He is a 5-11 kid, but he has the heart of a 6-8 power forward. He has such a toughness. We threw it to Gilvydas, who just made simple plays. Even Austin (Johnson) did when he had the opportunity. It’s hard to attack Syracuse in the paint, but these guys did it, well enough to win the game.”
