Jan. 3, 2015
Box Score
Photo Gallery RVision Highlights
RVision: Coach Jordan Postgame Press Conference
PISCATAWAY, N.J. - Thanks to a strong defensive effort and a double-double from senior forward Kadeem Jack, Rutgers (9-6, 1-1) defeated Penn State (12-3, 0-2), 50-46, Saturday night at the RAC for the program's first Big Ten Conference victory. The Scarlet Knights, who never trailed in the contest, held the Nittany Lions to just 29 percent (15-of-52) shooting, the lowest percentage for PSU since the 2012-13 season.
Up 47-46 with 28.1 seconds remaining, senior guard Myles Mack was forced to the free throw line, converting both chances to put RU up three points. Penn State guard D.J. Newbill then attempted a three-pointer, but missed, allowing Jack to secure the victory with a free throw of his own.
Jack finished with 12 points and 11 rebounds for his second double-double of the season and ninth of his career. Mack complimented Jack with 10 points and added seven rebounds. Rutgers out-rebounded PSU, 44-36, with four Scarlet Knights securing seven or more boards.
The Scarlet Knights produced their second-straight effective start in as many contests, opening up with a 13-3 scoring run from tipoff. Jack had six points during that frame while Mack dropped five points, including a three-pointer for the first score of the game.
RU continued to dictate the pace down the stretch in the first half, with freshman Shaquille Doorson finishing a tough layup to give Rutgers a 21-10 lead with 5:20 in the stanza.
After two free throws by Penn State on the following possession, junior guard Bishop Daniels found Mack for his second three-pointer before the midpoint, putting the Scarlet Knights up 12 points with 4:49 to go.
Freshman guard Mike Williams then gave Rutgers its largest lead of the game, converting a layup off a nice assist by Mack at the 1:13 mark, putting the Scarlet Knights up, 30-16.
Rutgers entered the locker room at the midpoint with a 30-19 lead, controlling nearly every statistical category. Rutgers out-rebounded Penn State, 22-15, blocked five PSU shots and held the Nittany Lions to just 19 percent (5-of-26) shooting from the field. Rutgers shot 44 percent (11-of-25), during that same span.
Penn State responded in the second half, converting two three-pointers to make it a 30-25 game with 17:28 to go. But junior forward Greg Lewis made two free throws and RU forced an eight-second violation on the visitor to gain the momentum back.
The Nittany Lions cut the lead to three with just over nine minutes to play before sophomore forward Junior Etou scored a crucial basket, converting an and-1 jump shot to give Rutgers a 39-33 lead with 7:47 to go.
But Penn State was able to get the score within one point thanks to a free throw by guard John Johnson with 2:17 left. From there, both teams would trade buckets in the final minutes.
With 1:47 remaining, Jack was able to secure an offensive board for Rutgers, and then proceeded to convert a layup to put the Scarlet Knights up 47-44 at the 1:31 mark.
With a chance to tie on the next possession, Newbill stepped out of bounds along the baseline, giving the ball back to Rutgers. RU was unable to score on the turnover and allowed the Nittany Lions with another opportunity.
Newbill was able to score on an inbounds play for Penn State, making it a 47-46 game with 29.2 seconds to go, but Rutgers was able to hold on for the win.
RU held Newbill to his second-lowest scoring output of the season. The Big Ten's leading scorer shot just 4-of-17 from the field to produce 14 points. Forward Brandon Taylor joined Newbill in double figures with 10 points.
Rutgers returns to action on Thursday (Jan. 8) when it travels to Nebraska. Tipoff is set for 9:00 p.m. The contest will be televised live on ESPNU.
POSTGAME QUOTES
Rutgers Head Coach Eddie Jordan
Opening Statement: "There was a lot of energy in the building. We wanted to play with a lot of spirit and wanted to get it started on the defensive end. We pretty much started that and it was a grind sort of game. They came in and looked very impressive, 12-2 and off of a tough game against Wisconsin. They were a very, very good team. [Penn State head coach] Patrick [Chambers] does a great job and he has some good players. They'll be talking loud in March."
On Kadeem Jack's Performance: "He had a high-motor. When he's high-motor, we know what he can do. Even though this was a terrific game for him, he went for 12 and 11 but if he makes half more of his free throws it would have been more than that, but it was just his effort and extension going for offensive rebounds, his knack to get offensive rebounds and just his effort."
On Rutgers Defense: "[Penn State] took a lot of early, quick shots and they missed. They could have made them and shot us out of the building, but they missed and we fed off of that. But again, our defense was really, really good."
On the Team's First Big Ten Conference Victory: "I guess it will hit me in the morning. Usually it means more in the morning when you wake up. Right now, I'm happy for the kids and happy for the program. We expect to win, and we just hope to keep it going."
On the Home Atmosphere at the RAC: "It was a good crowd [against Northwestern], it was a good crowd tonight and hopefully when we play Wisconsin here, I hope it's filled to the rafters and we play well."
Penn State Head Coach Patrick Chambers
On if the team got away from what they're trying to be: "No, not really. I mean we only gave up 50 points. I thought we defended and rebounded. I thought they did a very good job. Give Rutgers a lot of credit. We missed a ton of shots."
On if he's happy with the decision-making at certain points of the game: "Obviously no. We turned it over at really, really bad times. Critical times. We took way too many threes, and I'm sure that was the game plan. We've got to put the ball inside more, and that's obvious. We tried to do that. We got to keep defending and rebounding. It's life on the road in the Big Ten. Nothing's going to come easy. They wanted it more - they made the winning plays down the stretch. Those offensive rebounds were killers. They were absolute killers."
On where the team goes from here: "We pick ourselves back up. We get to finally get a home game. We've got to protect our home court. We're very good at home this year. Obviously this is a tough loss. Wisconsin was a tough loss. But you know, you've got to continue to get better. You've got to move on. You've have to find ways to manufacture some points. I'm looking at some of the statistics here - very ugly. And let's give Rutgers credit for that."
POST-GAME NOTES
· The victory signaled Rutgers' first league win as a member of the Big Ten Conference.
· Kadeem Jack had 12 points and 11 rebounds. He recorded his second double-double of the season, the ninth of his career.
· Myles Mack scored 10 points, reaching double figures for a team-best 12th time this season.
· The Scarlet Knights held Penn State to a season-low 46 points. Penn State's previous low scoring total this season was 61 points. The Nittany Lions entered the game averaging 72 points per game.
· Penn State's D.J. Newbill entered the game leading the Big Ten (sixth in the nation) with 21.9 points per game. RU held Newbill to 14 points (his second lowest total of the season) on 4-of-17 shooting.
· Rutgers held Penn State to 19 points in the first half. It was the fourth time this season that the Scarlet Knights held an opponent under 20 points in a half.
· Rutgers held Penn State to 5-of-26 from the field in the first half (19.2%), PSU's worst shooting half of the season.
· RU never trailed in the game, leading for 39:09 after scoring the game's first points. It was the first game this season in which the Scarlet Knights never trailed.
· The Scarlet Knights out-rebounded Penn State 44-38 and led second chance points 12-6.
· Four Scarlet Knights had at least seven rebounds - Jack (11), Junior Etou (7), Greg Lewis (7) and Myles Mack (7).
· In the 67th meeting between the two squads, Rutgers claimed its 30th lifetime victory over Penn State. The Scarlet Knights have now won five of the past six meetings with the Nittany Lions, dating back to 1991.
· Bishop Daniels had a career-best two blocks.
· Rutgers used the starting lineup of Myles Mack, Mike Williams, Junior Etou, Kadeem Jack, and Greg Lewis for the ninth time this season.
· The announced attendance of 7,158 marked a season-high.
