Rutgers University
Fairleigh Dickinson
Men's Basketball Defeats FDU 61-44
Nov 19 | Men's Basketball
Box Score VIDEO: Coach Jordan Postgame Press Conference
VIDEO: Player Interviews and Highlights
PISCATAWAY, N.J. - Junior guard Bishop Daniels scored a career-high 18 points and sophomore forward Junior Etou produced his first-career double-double to help Rutgers (1-1) to a 61-44 victory over Fairleigh Dickinson (2-1) Wednesday evening at the RAC.
Daniels shot 7-of-11 and scored eight points down the stretch to help secure the win. Etou added 11 points and was dominate on the boards, corralling a game-high 14 rebounds. Senior guard Myles Mack also had a strong game, posting nine points and dishing out seven assists.
The Scarlet Knights out-rebounded FDU 49-30 and forced 11 turnovers.
RU played stellar defense in the first half, limiting Fairleigh Dickinson to only 16 first-half points. FDU shot just 18 percent (6-of-34), while RU blocked seven shots, including three blocks from Etou, before the midpoint.
On the other side of the floor, the Scarlet Knights shot 57 percent (13-of-23) in the opening stanza. Daniels led all scorers with 10 first-half points, while Etou chipped in nine points and six rebounds before the midpoint.
RU jumped out to an early lead thanks to a balanced offensive attack from its starters, who all found the bottom of the net in the opening minutes. Etou's three-pointer from the right side of the floor gave the Scarlet Knights an 18-7 advantage at the 11:27 mark in the first half.
RU continued its strong play into halftime, as freshman forward D.J. Foreman's free throw gave the Scarlet Knights a 37-16 lead at the midpoint.
FDU fought back at the start of the second half, producing a 10-0 scoring run to make it 37-26 with 16:22 remaining. Daniels drilled a corner three-pointer from the right side of the floor to stop the run, but a fast-break layup by FDU's Matt McDonald made it just a seven-point game with 4:30 to go.
Despite the improved play of Fairleigh Dickinson down the stretch, RU's backcourt secured the victory. Mack drilled a three-pointer to beat the shot clock at the 3:48 mark and Daniels threw down an emphatic one-handed dunk to put the Scarlet Knights up 54-40 with just over two minutes to play.
Mustafaa Jones was the only Fairleigh Dickinson player in double figures, scoring 15 points on 5-of-12 shooting. Jones also converted a game-high three three-pointers.
RU returns to hardwood on Sunday (Nov. 23) when it hosts St. Francis-Brooklyn at 5 p.m. at the RAC. The game will be televised live on the web via BTN Plus.
POSTGAME NOTES
- Rutgers used a new starting lineup of guard Myles Mack, guard Bishop Daniels, forward D.J. Foreman, forward Junior Etou, and center Greg Lewis.
- Freshman D.J. Foreman made his first career start.
- Senior forward Kadeem Jack missed his second consecutive game with a thumb injury.
- Freshman Jake Dadika made his collegiate debut in the final minute.
- Sophomore Junior Etou had the first double-double of his career with 11 points and a career-high 14 rebounds. It was the first double-double for Rutgers since Kadeem Jack (15 points, 12 rebounds) versus Cincinnati on March 8, 2014.
- In his fifth collegiate game, Bishop Daniels set career highs in points (18), field goals made (7) and minutes (34), while tying a career-high in three-pointers made (2).
- Myles Mack had nine points and seven assists. He moves past Rick Dadika for 13th on the all-time career assist list with 301 all-time. He passes Bucky Hatchett for 18th place on the all-time scoring list with 1,251 points. He moves into 19th place all-time with 964 career field goal attempts.
- Redshirt junior Greg Lewis set new career-highs with eight rebounds and five made free throws.
- The 44 points against were the lowest scoring output allowed by Rutgers since holding Pittsburgh to 39 points in a 62-39 win on Jan. 11, 2012.
POSTGAME QUOTES
Rutgers Head Coach Eddie Jordan
Opening Statement: "First half we did a great job defensively. We executed our game plan most of the game. I would think 80 percent of the time in the first half we were really, really good. Our offense was clicking in the first half as far as finding seams in their zones, converting in the paint…our forwards did a good job finding the open gaps.
"We still need to convert more in the paint but the second half…we knew they were going to come for a run, that they were going to get on a run. Our offense didn't work so well, but again our defense was solid for the most part. And we didn't locate Mustafa Jones a few times on the three. He got loose on Bishop, got loose on Myles, and I thought Mike Williams did a terrific job face guarding him for about four, five possessions. That was key. I think they got it to 11, maybe nine and we sort of stayed with him, so he wouldn't get open. And it was good. It was something that doesn't show up in the box score. But again, that's what I like. I like guys who get things done and don't show up in the box score."
On Daniels' and Etou's performances: "Well, they were great. I hate to take them off the court…Bishop made some great plays. Just fundamentally sound plays. I feel that's been big emphasis for us from day one. You don't have to jump in the air. I know he's athletic. I know he's quick. He's got all this terrific athleticism and that sort of thing but the best play is a jump stop to a kick out or a down to a big in the paint. Being patient offensively, running your set, and if you don't get anything let the zone spread out then find your seams. I thought he did great. So you have to be patient. I thought he was patient, a lot more patient today. Junior was just a stud defensively. Rebounds, guarding, guys in the post, four and fives and threes, guarding the perimeter. You know their dribble-weave game gave their first two opponents a real tough time. To execute our game plan in guarding that, that was huge for us.
Fairleigh Dickinson Head Coach Greg Herenda
On difference between first and second halves: "(It was) night and day. We came out without the fire, intensity and early swagger that we had. We just didn't bring it and Rutgers did. We allowed the first half to be very comfortable for all the Scarlet Knights. And once you get that, you start making shots and getting rebounds. You just can't go into halftime down 18. Consequently, we came out in the second half, went inside, scored and turned them over. We did everything we though we could for 40 minutes for 20 minutes. That's how you win and lose college basketball games. Rutgers played two good halves and we played one poor half and - for us in a Big Ten venue - a very good half. You have to be consistent and this is a good slice of humble pie that my guys, my staff and myself have to swallow tonight."
On picking up defensive intensity: "When you get down, you have to guard. If we don't guard, it hurts our offense. We walked out of here with 44 points - we shot poorly, but it really had to do with our defensive intensity in the first half.
On Rutgers hitting three-pointer to go up 10 in second half: "The shot went up and I asked (the referees) for them to review it, but that is an un-reviewable play. That just turns it around entirely. We could have come down with the chance to make it a two-possession game. Instead, that goes in. But that is the basketball gods. The basketball gods were friendly to us in Philadelphia because we worked hard for 40 minutes. Tonight the basketball gods said no."
On Rutgers: "I'm just rooting for Eddie (Jordan) and staff. I'm a resident of New Jersey and they are going to the Big Ten. I'm a big fan now - I wasn't tonight - and I want those guys to win. They have a big job ahead of them and tonight they deserved their first win. We have to swallow a bit of a bitter pill, but that's college basketball."
