Box Score

Photo Gallery RVision: Coach Jordan Postgame Press Conference

PISCATAWAY, N.J. - Playing in its inaugural Big Ten Conference game, Rutgers (8-6, 0-1) was unable to hold off Northwestern (10-4, 1-0), losing to the Wildcats, 51-47, Tuesday afternoon at the RAC. Senior guard Myles Mack shot 6-of-12 to score a team-high 15 points, while also grabbing seven rebounds, in the loss.

Down five points with six seconds remaining, junior guard Bishop Daniels drilled a three-pointer from the top of the floor, making it just a 49-47 game. But NU guard Bryant McIntosh made two free throws to secure the victory for the Wildcats.

Daniels complimented Mack with eight points off the bench.

Rutgers held the visitors to just 39 percent (16-of-41) shooting, while forcing 15 NU turnovers.

The Scarlet Knights started strong, producing a 10-5 scoring run before the first media timeout. The run included three-pointers from freshmen Mike Williams and D.J. Foreman.

RU would stretch the lead to as large as eight before Northwestern began its comeback, utilizing an 11-1 burst of its own to reclaim the lead. McIntosh made a three-pointer with 6:59 to go in the half, putting the Wildcats up, 19-17.

From there, both teams would trade leads before the midpoint, with Northwestern taking a 27-22 advantage into the locker room. Rutgers held the visitors to just 38 percent (10-26) shooting and out-rebounded the Wildcats, 17-15, in the half.

Rutgers responded after the break, with Mack scoring five-straight points to make it just a 31-29 game with 15:31 remaining in favor of Northwestern.

The Wildcats continued to score down the stretch, expanding their lead to 44-36 with 7:29 to go. But Mack drained two free throws to make it a five-point game with 2:07 on the clock.

On the next possession, Mack forced Northwestern's 15th turnover, taking a steal coast-to-coast for a layup to make it 44-41.

Both teams would continue to trade buckets. Down four points with 30 seconds left, Daniels drove down the lane, finishing a layup to make it just 45-43 in favor of NU. Northwestern, however, was able to convert from the charity stripe when it counted for the win.

McIntosh led all scorers with 17 points, while Wildcat guard Tre Demps joined McIntosh in double figures with 16.

Rutgers returns to the hardwood on Saturday (Jan. 3) when its hosts Penn State. Tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m. at the RAC. The contest will be televised live on ESPN2.

POSTGAME NOTES

• Mike Williams made a three pointer for the first Big Ten points in Rutgers history.
• Junior Etou had the first Big Ten rebound.
• Myles Mack had 15 points, seven rebounds and four assists. The seven rebounds tied his season high. Mack has scored in double figures in 11 of the 14 games this season.
• Mack led the team in scoring for the seventh time this season and 40^th time in his career.
• Junior Etou had 10 rebounds, reaching double digits for the second time this season and third time in his career.
• Etou led the team in rebounding for the eighth time this season and 12^th time in his career.
• Greg Lewis (2) and Kadeem Jack (3) each tied their career-high in steals
• Rutgers falls to 1-5 all-time against Northwestern.
• Rutgers started Myles Mack, Mike Williams, Junior Etou, D.J. Foreman and Greg Lewis. It was the first time this year the Scarlet Knights used that starting five.

POSTGAME QUOTES

Rutgers Head Coach Eddie Jordan

Opening Statement: "It was a wonderful atmosphere. Our fans were great. [Northwestern head coach Chris Collins] does a great job with his team and they execute very well. They have good personal, guys that can make shots. They have bigs who can do good things. Our game plan was to take away the paint, which we did, but we just didn't get out on their shooters well enough. But down the stretch, we had a lot of stops. They were stuck on 44 points. It was a great character effort by the guys that were in there, I was happy with that. We just didn't make enough shots. I thought we executed well and made shots, even our layups, we just didn't put it in the basket."

On Rutgers' Strong Start: "I thought we started the game off at a great pace, a really great pace. We had pace in transition. We had pace in the half court and we executed the game plan with our switches, pick-and-roll coverage and staying attached to the shooters. [Bryant] McIntosh got off and [Tre] Demps did some good things. Heck, I coached [Demp's] dad, so he better do some good things out there. But for the most part, we were very good to start the game.

On Expectations of Style of Play in the Big Ten Going Forward: "I don't know yet, we're going to have to experience it. We hear that it's going to be physical."

On the Play of Greg Lewis and Shaquille Doorson on Defense: "The bulk of the game plan was to take away [Northwestern center Alex] Olah's roll's to the basket and their execution of high-low for them. We executed our game plan very well. We had to give our center's support when they were helping on the dribblers and pick-and-roll's, and we did that tremendously well."

Northwestern Head Coach Chris Collins

Game thoughts: "Welcome to Big Ten basketball, the games are grinders. At the end of the day they don't ask you for style points, there were a lot of things that we could have done better, especially offensively in the second half, but to me it was just Northwestern basketball."

"We had a tough time scoring, we missed three straight one on one's and our guys just kept fighting on defense and we just kept on getting stops. To me that's what I'm was most proud of. I thought that our guys stayed together and were mentally strong."

"We have to get JerShon back, just his presence alone helps to steady our ship.

"I thought our guards were tremendous today, to combine for 33 points and five assists. Brian walks up there and makes five out of six free throws at the end which was huge. They also had to guard and cover Myles Mack the whole game; that kid is a good player and that's not easy to do."

"It was a really good win for us and any time you can get a win on the road it's a big win. It doesn't matter who you're playing or when you're playing."