Rutgers University
Rutgers-Newark
Scarlet Knights Down RU-Newark in Season Opener
Nov 13 | Men's Basketball
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PISCATAWAY, N.J. - Sophomore guard Mike Williams posted his first career double-double, scoring 18 points and grabbing a career-best 11 rebounds, to help Rutgers (1-0) to a season-opening 72-59 victory over Rutgers-Newark (0-1) Friday night at the RAC. The Scarlet Knights out-scored the visitors 39-26 after the break and established a 39-2 overall advantage in bench points to ensure the victory.
Williams, who also had a career-high five steals, was joined in double figures by junior forward Deshawn Freeman and sophomore forward D.J. Foreman. Freeman came off the bench in the second half, posting 13 points on 6-of-8 shooting with four rebounds in 17 minutes. Foreman was 5-of-7 from the field to post 10 points with six rebounds in 22 minutes.
Rutgers shot 50 percent (30-of-60) and established a 45-27 advantage on the glass. After making 50 percent of its shots in the opening 20 minutes, the Scarlet Raiders were held to 26.7 percent after the break to conclude the evening shooting 37.0 percent (20-of-54).
Both teams started the game in sluggish fashion, combining to deposit two of the initial 13 shots in a half that featured six ties and four lead changes. The visitors led by as many as five points on three occasions as a back-and-forth affair ensued.
The Scarlet Knights held a 33-29 edge before the visitors scored the final four points of the stanza to send the teams in to the locker rooms at the midpoint tied 33-33.
The second half belonged to the home squad. Rutgers scored nine of the initial 11 points after the break and never looked back. The Scarlet Knights' advantage reached 22 points (69-47) after a pair of Justin Goode free throws as RU cruised to victory.
Three Scarlet Raiders scored in double figures, led by Jordan McDaniel with 18 points.
The Scarlet Knights return the hardwood on Sunday (Nov. 15) versus Howard in a 1 p.m. tip-off at the RAC. The game will be available live via the web on BTN Plus with Kevin Fitzgerald and Dick Lloyd calling the action.
Rutgers Postgame Notes:
- Mike Williams had his first career double-double (18 points, 11 rebounds). He finished with career-highs in rebounds (five), steals (five) and assists (four).
- Rutgers was +22 with Williams on the floor, +20 with D.J. Foreman and +19 with Deshawn Freeman.
- Freshman Jonathan Laurent started in his Rutgers debut. He joined Greg Lewis (35th start at RU), Bishop Daniels (21st start), Mike Williams (11th) and D.J. Foreman (3rd).
- Ibrahima Diallo, Deshawn Freeman, Omari Grier and Justin Goode also made their Rutgers debuts. Diallo had nine points and four rebounds, Freeman had 13 points and four rebounds in 17 minutes, and Goode had nine points and three assists in a team-high 30 minutes. Grier scored six points.
- D.J. Foreman had the first points of the season with a dunk on a fast break. Foreman finished with 10 points, reaching double-digits for the third time in his career.
- Bishop Daniels tied his career-highs with five rebounds and five assists.
- Jake Dadika had his first career field goal.
- Rutgers held the edge in rebounding (45-27), points in the paint (48-32), fast break points (14-2), and bench points (39-2).
- Rutgers improves to 75-29 all-time in season openers. The Scarlet Knights have won 10 of their last 14 openers.
- Rutgers improves to 2-1 in season openers under head coach Eddie Jordan
Rutgers Head Coach Eddie Jordan Quotes
Opening Statement: "I'd like to give a lot of credit to Rutgers-Newark. They played very well. In the first half they were just quicker than we were and ran their offense very well. We were about a step behind, mostly because of what they did and the pace they ran their offense at. It was very effective for them.
"It was good to get Deshawn in the second half. It was obviously a big difference for us. Mike Williams led the charge, doing a lot of grunt work. When the offense isn't going great, you do all the other parts of basketball, stay unselfish, work hard, rebounding, getting loose balls. Then the offense will come. Perfect example tonight of how he led the charge and that was contagious. So a lot of credit goes to Mike and Deshawn. D.J. made some nifty passes, which was a big part of our zone, which was pretty good and pretty effective."
On the difference between the first and second half: "Sometimes it's just about having another good player. Deshawn made a difference. I thought his teammates saw that he was very effective doing the other things in the game. They did a good job getting the ball in the paint, drives, rolls, post ups, so we have to improve in that area. But, Deshawn was big in the second half, Mike made some shots, Justin Goode played well. We had the right pace for us. It was a big partnership, D.J. was good with Deshawn, and I was happy with that."
On Jonathan Laurent starting as a freshman: "He was the three-man that we liked. He can run the floor, he can get to the basket very easily. He showed a lot of good signs, driving to the basket, making jump shots, playing some good defense. The athleticism comes so easy to him, that we like what he did."
Rutgers-Newark Head Coach Joe Loughran Quotes
Thoughts on the game: "Our whole goal tonight was to play hard and compete. I thought we did that in the first half, but got a little wore out in the second. When you go against a bigger, stronger team, they are going to wear you out. But our guys did a great job and (Rutgers) had to earn that victory. It wasn't easy for them and they had to earn it. I thought our team did a nice job."
Impression of Rutgers: "I like them. Coach (Eddie) Jordan has stressed to them to spread the floor and make some threes. They had some looks tonight and just didn't make a lot. I think if their shooters make some shots, I think they will be in good shape. And I really like the kid (Deshawn) Freeman, he's good."
On ways to learn from the game: "We have to keep our composure when we get down a bit. And there are some things defensively where we broke down. We didn't communicate well. We are a low-key team with not a lot of personalities, but they are good kids. Just have to learn from it."
