Dec. 1, 2014
Box Score
CLEMSON, S.C. - In its first ever appearance in the ACC-Big Ten Challenge, Rutgers (4-3) used a late run and a career-high 20 points from sophomore forward Junior Etou to defeat Clemson (4-3) 69-64 at Littlejohn Coliseum. The Scarlet Knights committed just three turnovers to complete their third game in four days and earn the hard-fought victory.
Etou was joined in double figures by senior forward Kadeem Jack, senior guard Myles Mack and junior center Greg Lewis. Jack shot 6-of-11 to score 15 points, Mack contributed 12 points and eight assists and Lewis had a career-best 11 points and two blocks.
Rutgers offense was clicking early, as the Scarlet Knights opened the contest by drilling three-pointers on its first two possessions. RU opened with 4-of-6 shooting to take an 11-5 lead.
The teams continued to trade baskets, with Rutgers extending its lead as much as 23-18. Late in the half, the Tigers got hot from behind the three-point arc to sneak ahead 29-27, but Rutgers continued to answer. Heading to the locker room at the midpoint, the teams were tied at 33 apiece.
In the second half, Rutgers started 5-of-8 from the field, but Clemson responded for a 45-44 edge. The Tigers shot well from the floor, making nine of their first 18 shots to extend their lead to a 55-48 peak. The turning point of the game came next, as an Etou three-pointer quieted the home crowd.
Rutgers quickly followed with a 9-0 run, with a Kadeem Jack three pushing them back into the lead, and forced Clemson to take a timeout with 3:20 left and Rutgers leading 60-57. The Etou three-pointer sparked a 14-2 run overall into the game's final media timeout, with the Scarlet Knights taking a 62-57 advantage.
Down the final stretch the Rutgers defensive pressure was huge once again. After Clemson scored at the 5:42 mark to extend its lead to 57-53, the Scarlet Knights held Clemson without a point until just 24 seconds remained on the clock to finish-off the five point victory.
Rutgers shot 50.0 percent from the field (12-of-24) in the second stanza.
The Scarlet Knights dished-out a season-best 16 assists to complement its season low turnover total. RU shot 43.1 percent overall and 36.8 percent (7-of-19) from behind the arc.
The Scarlet Knights return to the hardwood on Saturday (Dec. 6) to meet rival Seton Hall at 12 noon at the Prudential Center in the Garden State Hardwood Classic.
Postgame Notes
• Junior Etou scored a career-high 20 points. Etou scored in double figures for the 10th time in his career.
• Greg Lewis scored a career high 11 points.
• Rutgers committed just three turnovers, its lowest total since turning the ball over just three times at UAB on Nov. 11, 2013.
• Myles Mack had two steals, tying James Bailey and Rob Hodgson for third on the program's all-time list with 178 in his career.
• Mack, who entered the game ranking second in the conference with 35.8 minutes per game, played 37 minutes, totaling more than 34 minutes for the sixth game in a row.
• Mack tied his season high in assists with eight.
• Mack had 12 points, reaching double figures for the 68th time.
• Kadeem Jack scored in double figures for the 35th time with 15 points.
• Shaquille Doorson scored a career high four points.
• Rutgers had at least three players scoring in double figures for the fourth time this season and four players reaching double figures for the second time this season.
• The win was the first over an ACC opponent since Nov. 21, 2010 vs. Miami and the first time Rutgers beat a then-member of the ACC on its home floor.
• Rutgers' starting lineup was guard Myles Mack, guard Mike Williams, forward Junior Etou, forward Kadeem Jack and center Greg Lewis for the second consecutive game.
Postgame Quotes
Rutgers Head Coach Eddie Jordan
On Team Effort:
"Great effort tonight, Myles Mack was key, kept us organized, kept us calm under fire, ran sets for everybody and got people in the right spots, the right tempo, the right pace. And yet when it was time for him to score and we needed him, he took great shots and was very selective to get into a scoring mode."
On hitting shots early:
"We try to stress to our kids, the offense will get you shots, don't get shots for yourself when you run down the floor. Allow the offense to work for you, move the defense, break the defense down, get to the second or third side of the floor, use and manage the clock and we did that. The beginning of the first half was almost textbook for us the way we want to play offensively."
Message he gave to team after Clemson's second half run:
"It was not so much what I said but the people that are on the floor. We had some good short minutes from the bench. Malick Kone did some things, Shaq Doorson did some good things and they allowed our main guys to get a breath of air. And then we stayed calm and Myles was the key. He kept us calm, didn't panic. We go down by five or seven, and he wasn't in a rush to get shots. Junior (Etou) made a couple of good shots. Everybody contributed, it was just a great offensive display. Our defensive back line was key for us. Greg Lewis and Junior Etou spearheaded that."
