Rutgers University
Saint Francis (PA)
MBB Falls to St. Francis (PA) 73-68
Dec 20 | Men's Basketball
Box Score
Video: Coach Jordan Postgame Press Conference
PISCATAWAY, N.J. - Despite senior forward Kadeem Jack's first double-double of the season and a career-high four three-pointers from sophomore forward Junior Etou, Rutgers (6-5) fell to St. Francis Pa. (6-4), 73-68, Saturday afternoon at the RAC. The Scarlet Knights converted a season-high 10 three-pointers in the loss.
Down 66-63 with 51 seconds remaining, junior guard Bishop Daniels converted an and-1 layup, with his free throw making it 66-66. But St. Francis guard Ollie Jackson made a three-pointer with 17 seconds to go, giving the Red Flash a 69-66 advantage. Daniels would make two more free throws, but both teams would trade foul shots in the final seconds before St. Francis secured the win.
Jack scored 20 points for RU while grabbing a season-high 12 rebounds. Etou dropped 14 points on five-of-six shooting while senior guard Myles Mack drilled three, three-pointers en route to 10 points. Daniels contributed 12 points off the bench, all in the second half. Mack also contributed eight assists in a game for the second time this season.
Jack was productive for Rutgers on the offensive side of the floor in the first half, collecting 16 points on 5-of-9 shooting before the midpoint. Jack's and-one layup and ensuing free throw put the Scarlet Knights up, 25-13, with 10:59 remaining in the opening stanza.
A big bucket in the first half came courtesy of freshman guard Mike Williams. After a strong defensive stand on the other side of the floor by Williams, Mack found a streaking Williams for an and-1 layup with 7:13 left in the opening stanza. Williams' free throw gave the Scarlet Knights a 32-21 advantage.
Three RU players - Jack, Etou and Mack - each drilled two three-pointers in the first half. Mack's second shot made from behind the arc gave Rutgers a 37-21 lead with 5:30 to go before halftime, its biggest lead of the game.
St. Francis managed to claw itself back into the game down the stretch, as Rutgers entered the locker room with just a 39-34 lead. The Scarlet Knights shot 46 percent (13-of-28) from the floor in the first half and out-rebounded the Red Flash 20-19.
St. Francis came out strong in the second half, utilizing a 7-0 run in the opening minutes of the half to take a 45-42 lead with 16:30 remaining.
Etou responded for the Scarlet Knights on the following RU possession, drilling his third three-pointer of the game to tie the game, 45-45.
But St. Francis continued to attack the basket, this time producing an 8-0 scoring run to take a 53-45 lead with 12:49 to go.
Etou again halted the Red Flash's run with another three-pointer, this one from the opposite corner to make it 53-48 at the 12:24 mark.
After St. Francis went up by as much as 13 in the second half, Rutgers began its comeback. A layup by freshman forward D.J. Foreman decreased the Scarlet Knight's deficit to just six points, while RU's 10th three-pointer of the game, courtesy of Daniels, made it 62-59 with 7:06 remaining.
Daniels then gave Rutgers the lead, converting a coast-to-coast reverse layup for a 63-62 advantage at the 4:28 mark.
St. Francis would then score four-straight points to take a 66-63 lead in the closing minutes. But Red Flash guard Greg Brown turned the ball over, giving Rutgers an opportunity to at least tie with 1:11 left in the contest.
The Scarlet Knights did just that thanks to Daniels' layup, but Rutgers was unable to secure the win.
St. Francis was led by forward Earl Brown, who scored a team-high 23 points for the Red Flash. Forward Malik Harmon, Jackson and Greg Brown joined in double figures with 17, 15 and 10 points, respectively.
Rutgers returns to the hardwood Tuesday night (Dec. 23) when the Scarlet Knights host Sacred Heart in a 7 p.m. tip-off at the RAC. The game will be televised live on BTN.
POSTGAME NOTES
· Kadeem Jack scored 20 points and had 12 rebounds for his eighth career double-double and his first this season.
· Jack's three blocks tied him for 14th on the all-time blocks list with Rashod Kent.
· Jack scored 20-plus points for the third time in nine games this season.
· Jack's 12 rebounds were a season-high.
· Jack led the team in scoring for the third time this season and fifteenth time in his career.
· Myles Mack made three three-pointers, moving past Donnell Lumpkin and Jeff Greer for sole possession of fourth place on Rutgers' career three-point list.
· Mack tied his season-high with eight assists.
· Rutgers had four players score in double figures for the third time this season.
· Rutgers made a season-high 10 three-pointers.
· Bishop Daniels scored all 12 of his points in 12 second-half minutes. It was the second time in his career he reached double figures.
· Junior Etou scored 14 points, reaching double figures for the sixth time this year. His four three-pointers were a career high.
· Freshman D.J. Foreman logged a career-high 26 minutes off the bench.
POSTGAME QUOTES
Rutgers Head Coach Eddie Jordan
Opening Statement: " [St. Francis] played very well. I give them credit. They had a lot of enthusiasm. They had the momentum and they rode it pretty well. They opened us up broke us down, got to the rim and then broke us down again by making their three's. They made shots and we just weren't tough enough to withstand it. We didn't stay discipline. We didn't convert at the other end like we did in the first half. But for the most part, [St. Francis] played extremely well and we had to play better than what we did and we didn't."
On St. Francis's Play in the Second Half: "They just kept creeping back in and they just sort of got the momentum. It snowballed and we weren't tough enough to get stops and get rebounds. We just couldn't guard them one-on-one and they made shots from all parts of the floor."
On Kadeem Jack's Play (23 points, 12 rebounds): " Kadeem had it going really well in the first half. We couldn't get him going in the second half. He kept us above water and we got some separation with him scoring in the post. We couldn't get that in the second half, though it wasn't his fault."
St. Francis Head Coach Rob Krimmel
Opening statement: "I thought we came into this environment and stayed the course. Our staff does a great job of preparing these guys, but it is one thing to put the thoughts on paper, and another to go out there and execute. We hang our hats on defense, but early on they were making some shots. You have to give them credit. We were down 16 in the first half, but we did not get rattled. We were in a situation like this before when we went to Europe before the season and learned that it is a long game. We don't want to put ourselves in that position, but we have experience playing from behind. The way we started the second half, it was all about the defense. That is what got us back in the game. I'm proud of the way our guys came in here and battled."
On defensive improvements: "I thought we got out on the shooters a bit better and limited them to one shot. They are a big team in terms of height and we knew it would be a battle on the boards. Being able to limit them to one contested shot was key. I thought the guys battled underneath. We improved our focus defensively and dug in."
On late go-ahead three pointer by Ollie Jackson: "We didn't draw that play up, but did want to have something with Ollie (Jackson) and Earl (Brown). We didn't get the first look and the players just made a play. When a team defends your first action, second action or even third, you have to make a play.Ollie ended up taking the right shot at the right time."
