Jan. 9, 2016 Photo Gallery 
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PISCATAWAY, N.J. - Despite 22 points from sophomore guard Mike Williams, Rutgers (6-11, 0-4) fell 90-56 to Nebraska (9-8, 1-3) on Saturday evening at the RAC. The Scarlet Knights were unable to overcome a substantial size disadvantage and were out-rebounded 43-25, which resulted in a 52-20 disparity in points in the paint.
Williams was 7-of-12 from the field and a perfect 7-of-7 at the charity stripe, while also grabbing four rebounds.
With four frontcourt players (Deshawn Freeman, Ibrahima Diallo, Jonathan Laurent and Shaquille Doorson) sidelined by injuries, a strong shooting performance was essential. Unfortunately, Rutgers connected on 33.3 percent (17-of-51) of its field goal attempts and just 11.8 percent (2-of-17) from three-point range.
Nebraska supplemented its frontcourt advantage by shooting 56.9 percent (37-of-65).
The Cornhuskers were led by Andrew White III, who registered 28 points and nine rebounds.
The Scarlet Knights started slow and the Huskers came out hot. Nebraska made its first six shots and raced out to a 17-4 lead. Four early turnovers hurt the home cause and the visitors extended their lead to 27-10 nine minutes into the game.
A highlight-reel play by freshman guard Corey Sanders started a Rutgers run, cutting in to the deficit. Sanders crossed up his defender and nailed a step back jumper from the top of the key, which ignited a 12-4 burst.
The visitors responded with their own run, however, using a 7-0 spurt to establish control. The Cornhuskers took a 46-26 advantage into intermission.
Both teams exchanged baskets in the early going of the second half before Nebraska used a 14-0 run to extend its advantage to 65-34. The Huskers outscored the Scarlet Knights 44-30 in the second half to ensure the victory.
Rutgers returns to the hardwood Wednesday night in Columbus to face Ohio State at 6:30 p.m. on BTN.
Rutgers Postgame Notes
Mike Williams led the team with 22 points. He reached double-digits for 10th time this season and the 16th time in his career. Williams led team in scoring for fifth time this season. It was his third time this season scoring at least 20 points.
For the second straight game Bishop Daniels led the team in rebounding, grabbing six boards.
Rutgers honored the 1975-76 men's basketball team, which posted an undefeated regular season before advancing to the Final Four and a 31-2 record, at halftime. In an era without the three-point shot, the team broke the 90-point barrier 25 times and the century mark on 11 occasions. The team featured a National Coach of the Year (Tom Young) and included five (Phil Sellers, James Bailey, Mike Dabney, Hollis Copeland and Eddie Jordan) of the eight leading scorers in Rutgers history.
Postgame Quotes
Rutgers Head Coach Eddie Jordan
Opening statement: "Very tough loss. There were moments in the game when I was very disappointed with some of our effort. That hasn't happened all year, pretty much. We were going to have off tomorrow, but we'll come in and do some things, watch some film and stay together. We will reiterate to them how important effort and harmony is. Greg (Lewis) is hurting now. His knee is really hurting him. We have to rest him. Hopefully not long, but it could be long - we'll see."
On message to the team: "It is not the numbers, it is the effort. After a while you don't play to the score or the time when you're down so much. You have to play with effort and discipline. There was one time when the kid drives all the way, and I told the team it was probably the worst play since I've been here as far as not giving effort or being alert, whatever the case may be. We'll snap out of it. I told the team when you're fighting as a small, Mike Williams and Justin Goode and Bishop Daniels trying to block off 6-7, 6-8 guys who are over a 100 pounds heavier than they are, somewhat, and you keep boxing out, but they are too strong and get you under the rim, it becomes demoralizing as an athlete. You still give effort, but there comes a time when it is hard to overcome. It screws with your psyche and it affects some of your ability to give effort. There is no excuse, but that can happen in an athletic competition. When you're small like we are, there can be some demoralizing moments. That's what you saw today."
On Greg Lewis possibly missing game time: "Yes."
Injury update: "I am hoping Jonathan (Laurent) returns by Wednesday."
On the 1975-76 reunion: "We have been together. This was for the Rutgers community. We have been together many times, but wanted to take the picture and do the ceremony. It means a lot. It was good to see the guys, but we always talk. It wasn't like this was the first time we came together in 40 years."
On being concerned about the upcoming schedule: "I am not worried. It is a challenge. As a coach, you beat your brains in and try to figure out at one o'clock, two, three, four o'clock what can you say, what can do, what can you add. Or how to tweak this or that. It is a challenge, but you go out and see if some of it helps and works. But there comes a time, in the back of my mind, that this is a learning year. Our fans have to understand that. I am glad we didn't have a whole lot of negative reaction from our fans, there was some, but that is understandable. I hope our fans understand where we are. We are a young team and coming back with everybody healthy and with some new recruits. It is a learning year."
Nebraska Head Coach Tim Miles
On Nebraska getting its first conference win: "I thought our guys showed a lot of determination today. They played real hard. They were sound defensively and we came out and had a good rhythm on offense. Certainly all of that helped."
On planning against Rutgers: "Coach (Jordan) has got a knife in a gun fight unfortunately. That's a terrible analogy, I know, but he's up against it. What you worry about with those small guys is that they're going to get you to foul, which they did. Hopefully, if you can make it tough for them at the rim, and we got some of our young guys to block some shots and made it hard for them in the lane. Our three-point defense was pretty good most of the night, so those are the biggest things. Make it really hard for them to score in the lane without fouling and getting to the three-point shooters."
On the game of Andrew White III (28 points, nine rebounds, 5-7 from three): "Andrew's a terrific scorer. He can come off screens and also rebounds. He's a powerful rebounder. He got in the middle tonight as well in terms of a pull-up jumper here and there. He's a young guy that's adjusting. We have some freshmen, but at the same time, Andrew was the Virginia player of the year. Then he goes to Kansas where he's behind [Ben] Mclemore and [Andrew] Wiggins. So now he comes and redshirts and now he's the guy they circle on the scouting report and that's an adjustment. He said it's been about four years since he's had that role and I think he's adjusting well."
"I'd say this is the best of the season [for him] and he's had other very strong nights. But this one, when you get nine rebounds and 28 points, every time we needed a lift, he provided it."
On White's adjustment: "We've had some tough nights but at the same time, he's still been productive. He finds a way to go out, get on the scoreboard and help us out that way."
On what the win will do for the team: "Hopefully this can provide some spirit when we go home to get a home win. We don't have a conference home win yet. So hopefully it helps us play Minnesota tough on Tuesday."
On advice he would give to Eddie Jordan and the team's transition to the Big Ten Conference: "I would say get healthy. A full roster would help him, and he knows that. The one thing about the Big Ten is that there are no easy baskets. It's really difficult to get the players with enough skill and enough athleticism to be able to both. It's a well-coached league and he'll do a good job. There's a reason he's been successful at everything he's done and I think Rutgers is in great hands with coach."
