SOUTH BEND, Ind. – Senior forward Jonathan Mitchell (Mount Vernon, N.Y.) shot nine-of-14, including five-of-eight from behind the arc, to score a career-high tying 24 points in a 76-69 loss to No. 9/8 Notre Dame (19-4, 8-3) Sunday afternoon at the Purcell Pavilion at the Joyce Center. Rutgers (12-11, 3-8) was once again stymied by a free throws disparity that saw the Irish deposit 27-of-34 from the charity stripe, while the Scarlet Knights made eight of 12 attempts.

Sophomore wing Dane Miller (Rochester, N.Y.) complemented Mitchell bycontributing 11 points and five rebounds. Mitchell had a team-high seven boards.

The Irish were led by senior guard Ben Hansbrough, who scored a game-high 25 points. He made 11-of 13 free throws, including six-of-six with less than 30 seconds to play in the contest.  

Rutgers shot 27-of-62 (43.5 percent) and made five more field goals than Notre Dame (22-47) in a game that featured two ties and three lead changes. The Irish out-rebounded RU by a 36-31 margin.

With 59 seconds remaining, freshman Mike Poole (Rosedale, N.Y.) made both free throws on a one-and-one to put the RU within three, 70-67. Clutch free throw shooting by Hansbrough and two missed three pointers from the Scarlet Knights sealed the game for the Irish. 

Trailing 62-51 with 5:27 remaining in the game, Rutgers scored seven of the next eight points – led by Mitchell with six – to bring the score within five.

For the first half, the Scarlet Knights recovered from a three-for-nine start to shoot 48.3 percent from the floor. Down ten with 9:32 to go before the intermission, Rutgers hit three of its next four shots, rattling off seven-straight points over 2:03 to close within three, 25-22. Miller led the charge with four of his nine first-half points as RU entered the locker room at the midpoint trailing 37-33.

Rutgers committed just seven turnovers on the afternoon, while dishing-out 16 assists. Senior guard Mike Coburn (Mount Vernon, N.Y.) had five helpers in the midst of a nine points scoring effort.

The Scarlet Knights return to the hardwood on Wednesday (Feb. 9) to host No. 12/12 Villanova in an 8 p.m. tip-off at the RAC. The game will be televised live on SNY in the New York market and on Phl17 in Philadelphia.

Postgame Notes

• With one block, Dane Miller tied Mike Jones (1989-93) for the 17^th-most rejections in program history with 76.
• With two steals, Mike Coburn tied Kevin Black (1979-83) for the No. 22 spot on the RU all-time career list with 97 thefts.
• For the fourth-straight game, Rutgers allowed its opponent to go to the line 30-plus times (34).
• The Scarlet Knights move to 12-17 all-time against the Irish, including 2-10 in South Bend, Ind.
• Jonathan Mitchell tied his career high with 24 points. It marked the fifth time in the last eight games the senior has tallied 20-plus.
• Mitchell scored 16 in the second half. The forward has scored 20-plus in nine career games. 
• It marked the 40^thtime in his career, 17^thtime this season that Mitchell scored in double-digits. It was the 15^thtime in the last 18 contests Mitchell has posted 10-plus.
• When Mitchell leads RU, the Scarlet Knights are 6-6.
• Mitchell also led the team in boards (seven) for the ninth time this season.
• Dane Miller notched double-figures for the 13^thgame this season, 29^thtime in his career with 11 points. The Scarlet Knights are 9-4 when the sophomore scores 10-plus.
• Mike Coburn tallied five-plus assists (five) for the 10^thtime this season. 
• Rutgers moves to 8-3 this season when scoring the first points of the game.
• Of the nine players that saw action, eight had at least three points with five players notching six-plus.
• Austin Carroll hit his first field goal – and three pointer – since Dec. 23 against St. Peter’s. The freshman sat out seven games after knee surgery.
• After starting out 5-of-13 from the floor, the Scarlet Knights hit five of their next six shots to bring RU within three, 25-22.  
• Mike Rice went with the starting lineup of James Beatty, Mike Coburn, Dane Miller, Jonathan Mitchell and Gilvydas Biruta for the 21st time this season. The Scarlet Knights are 11-9 with this lineup.
• Austin Johnson was the first sub off the bench for the 19^thtime this season.

Postgame Quotes

Head coach Mike Rice

Opening Statement:

“We talked about inexperienced winners. They had fight. They are improving in our formula, whether it’s offensively or defensively… It’s tough. Like Pitt did to us – they just got to the free throw line too many times. The intensity, the aggressiveness – everything is there. We just have to play with a little more purpose on the defensive side. When we do have wide open shots, we have to shoot a better percentage, especially beating (teams in the BIG EAST). You are going to face ranked teams night in and night out. To do that (win), you’re going to have to make your open shots. We didn’t do that today.”

On fighting against the free throw margin:

“It’s very difficult, yet we almost did it. There was a time when it was a one possession game, down three, with about 2:15 and they had just gone up ten. It could have gone either way. I put a small lineup in. I loved that we started to run and jump a little bit more. We changed the pace to our liking. They just dropped their head and it seemed whenever they dropped their head, they got a foul.”

On avoiding fouling disparity:

“We have to just make adjustments. For the last two weeks, we have. Whether it is running for fouls during the scrimmages or doing drills without fouling. We’re going to pressure the basketball, but we have to do it with our feet and not our hands. Believe me, some of those were fouls. Ben Hansbrough clearly got fouled by JB (James Beatty) when they were up three. He had two hands on him. We have to improve on that and I think it’s something we can (improve). It’s something we will or they’re going to be very tired in practice.”

On Ben Hansbrough:

“Yes (Ben Hansbrough is a big-time player). I think J-Mitch (Jonathan Mitchell) is starting to be ours. You have guys in the BIG EAST that just find ways to make their team win or score points. The last couple of games, J-Mitch has certainly done that. Ben Hansbrough worked harder an hour and a half before the game than some of our guys do preseason or postseason in workouts. He’s a winner. There’s a reason why he is very driven. J-Mitch is starting to become that go-to guy.”