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Box Score

PISCATAWAY, N.J. - Freshman forward Jonathan Laurent had his second straight double-double, posting 19 points and 15 rebounds, but Rutgers (6-21, 0-14) dropped a 70-58 decision to Penn State (14-13, 5-9) on Saturday afternoon at the RAC. The Scarlet Knights overcame a 15-point first half deficit to take a second-half lead, but could not sustain the momentum in another hard-fought loss.

Laurent was 6-of-10 from the field and 7-of-9 from the charity stripe. He was joined in double figures by Bishop Daniels and D.J. Foreman, who scored 13 and 10 points, respectively.

RU held the Nittany Lions to 38.5 percent (25-of-65) shooting overall, but the visitors made their mark behind the arc, depositing 9-of-22. The Scarlet Knights were 21-of-54 (38.9 percent) from the field and made just two three-pointers. Penn State also utilized its size advantage to out-rebound Rutgers 46-34.

PSU started the game hot, making five of its first seven shots. Four straight points from Foreman made the score 12-8 in favor of the visitors, but PSU responded with a 9-0 run to take a 23-8 lead.

Faced with the deficit, Rutgers answered with a 9-0 run that was capped by a three-pointer from Mike Williams. A fast break dunk by Foreman turned the run into a 14-3 Rutgers spurt.

Penn State took a 28-22 advantage into the locker room at the midpoint. Laurent led the way for RU in the first frame, scoring eight points and hauling down 11 rebounds.

Rutgers inserted Khalil Batie in the lineup to start the second half and he provided a spark. The Scarlet Knights opened the second stanza on a 13-5 run to take a 35-33 lead.

The Nittany Lions answered back, utilizing a 15-0 run to move back in front 45-37. PSU extended that run to 24-7 to take a 59-44 advantage with 7:36 remaining.

The Scarlet Knights battled down the stretch, but were unable to overcome the deficit.

Rutgers returns to the hardwood in an 8:30 p.m. ET tip-off on Tuesday at Minnesota. The game will be televised on BTN. It will mark the first of two meetings this season with the Golden Gophers.

Postgame Notes

Jonathan Laurent had his second consecutive double-double with 19 points and 15 rebounds.

Laurent tied his career-high with 15 boards (previously 15 vs. UMass Lowell, 12-28-15).

Laurent's 15 rebounds were the most by a Rutgers freshman since Gregory Echinique had 16 against Providence on March 1, 2009.

Laurent became the first Rutgers player to have back-to-back double-doubles since Kadeem Jack did it in 2013 against Canisius and Drexel.

Laurent's back-to-back double-doubles were the first time a Rutgers player had consecutive double-doubles in conference play since Dane Miller did it in 2012 versus Pittsburgh and West Virginia.

Since returning from injury against Iowa (Jan. 21) Laurent is averaging 10.5 points and 6.0 rebounds.

Laurent led Rutgers in rebounds for the second consecutive game and second time this season.

Laurent had two steals, his first career game with multiple steals.

It was Laurent's 8^th time scoring in double-figures and third time with double-digit rebounds.

DJ Foreman (10 points) reached double figure scoring for 11^th time this year and the third consecutive game.

Foreman tied his career-high with two blocks.

Bishop Daniels (13 points) scored in double figures for the third time in the last four games and the 11^th time this season.

Khalil Batie played a career-high 16 minutes, recording a career-high in rebounds (four) and notched his first career block.

Penn State improves 39-30 in the all-time series.

Post-Game Quotes

Rutgers Head Coach Eddie Jordan

Opening Statement: "The first thing we talked about in pregame was that we needed to keep a scoring pace, especially early in the game. We didn't do that, but we had some spurts, just didn't have enough scoring. It's disappointing that our guys didn't make shots. When you are not making shots, you have to defend and rebound. I didn't see that either. I went a different route. I liked what we did with Khalil in the second half. He gave us a spark, he's an athlete, guarding, slashing. We sort of rallied around that. I'm disappointed with guys who are supposed to make shots that can't make shots, and we don't have enough scoring.

On the momentum swing back to Penn State after Rutgers took lead in second half: "It was just their ability to score consistently. They have a pretty good attack. They go inside. They have good shooters, they have good guards, good size. They got some offensive rebounds and some kick outs. We just didn't respond with scoring enough to match their pace. They have different ways of scoring. Pat's done a good job with them. They had a great win against Iowa. Their size wore us down. It's Groundhog Day for us. Just over and over and over again we give great effort, we're there, we're trying to box out, but they kick it out, they get threes. So we just couldn't keep the pace and play with them at the rim."

On his outlook on the season: "I look at it like this. We have the opportunity to get in the gym tomorrow and keep them excited and keep them spirited. It's a heck of a test, and I'm looking to pass the test. It doesn't matter about the W's and the L's, passing the test is to keep doing your job, keep them spirited, keep them organized, and continue to give great effort. The test is that as a coach."

On Jonathan Laurent: "Jonathan did a lot of good things for us. He's part of our young core that we hope are going to have success for us in our immediate future with him and Corey (Sanders) and Shaq (Doorson) and Ibrahima (Diallo) and the kids coming in, DJ and Mike getting older."

Penn State Head Coach Patrick Chambers

Opening Statement: "I'm proud of my team. Rutgers did a great job coming back and we finally fought back. We took a couple punches from them late in the first half and late in the second half which we knew we would. He's [Eddie Jordan] doing a great job of keeping that team together and making them fight and compete. I've been him. I've been in that seat, I've been in that chair and he's doing everything he's supposed to do. Those kids continue to fight and compete. You can tell that they're angry after the game, which is a real positive sign. They stuck together. I knew how hard they were going to play. I knew how they were going to come after us. We stepped up and made the right plays at the right time."

On game turning back in Penn State's favor: "That's a great question, I can't wait to watch film. But I'm going to say when we put it inside we got a layup, and then I think [Shep] Garner hits a three. Something like that occurred in that situation. We went to zone to try to slow down. I know he [Jordan] likes to back cut and they started out a couple back cuts late in the first half. We practiced zone, we were prepared to play zone, and I think it kind of just slowed them down a little bit, enough for us to take back the momentum."

On being in Eddie Jordan's shoes: "I hear him over there. 'Stay positive, keep fighting, keep working.' There is light at the end of the tunnel. Corey [Sanders] is out. When you have more guys in sweat suits than uniforms, you get an understanding of what he's going through. I've been there. I'm still there, let's keep it real here. I'm still there. You've just got to keep working, keep fighting, stay positive and develop these younger kids, and that's what he's doing. He's got to develop these young guys and try to get them better. For me it's all about attitude, it's all about our approach, it's all about sticking together. At the end of all this, these kids are going to learn great lessons about adversity and obstacles and challenges. That's what Eddie is exactly doing and that's what I see from my lens."

On winning back-to-back Big Ten games: "I was really worried about slippage. I coached them hard today. I coached them hard yesterday. There's been a common pattern for us, we get one big win and kind of feel good about ourselves and then we get drilled. It's something that I'm trying to teach this young team. I know we've got seniors that played well today, but the freshman and sophomores are playing quality minutes and they have to understand to stay dialed in, stay focused, and understand what Penn State basketball is all about. So I thought it was big for our team to be able to come back and respond after the big win against Iowa."

On Rutgers freshman forward Jonathan Laurent: "I really like him. He's rangy, he's long, attacks the glass, he's got a nose for the basketball. I said that in my scouting report. I've never seen anything like it, somehow the ball ends up in his hands. Same thing with [D.J.] Foreman - I think he's a sophomore - the ball ends up in his hands too. They got two really good pieces with Corey and hopefully Corey starts making really good decisions for them and good choices. They're starting to lay a really good foundation of young guys that are going to come through the ranks the next couple years."

On Penn State's success from three: "We shoot a lot. We shoot a lot contrary to popular belief. Everybody says 'oh they just work on defense and rebounding.' That's true, but we also shoot a lot in between all that stuff. So I think the guys are playing with some confidence right now. It makes a difference [having] Shep Garner. He was in a little bit of a shooting slump up until Iowa and made four threes there and five threes today. That really helps us out. It kind of loosens things up and now you can't just focus on [Brandon] Taylor the whole game. Now you've got to worry about Garner on the outside, Taylor on the inside and then you get some contributions from the other guys like [Payton] Banks, Josh Reaves, and Isaiah Washington. Donovon Jack has emerged in the last two games so hopefully we can keep that going."

On Brandon Taylor's presence on the glass: "He's becoming that elite-level player, he really is. I thought he struggled for Brandon today and I think he had nine rebounds at the half if I'm correct. I think he nine, so that was impressive, then he got into foul trouble so he could've got more. I thought he did a really good job of not letting human nature creep into his head like 'I'm home, I'm in New Jersey, I have my family here and friends. I'm not shooting the ball well but I'm just going to out and rebound and I'm going to help my team win this game.' That's a senior. That's a big time leader."