PISCATAWAY – Mike Williams scored 23 points off the bench to help Rutgers (2-0) to a 71-67 win over Central Connecticut State (2-0) Sunday afternoon at the RAC. Eugene Omorouyi added a career-best 13 points in a reserve role to ensure the victory and help the Scarlet Knights improve to 10-0 in non-conference home games under Steve Pikiell.

"Our goal going into this was to be 2-0 and we are, but I have to give Central Connecticut credit," said Pikiell. "They made plays. Our defense is nowhere near where it needs to be. We'll continue to get better in those areas. Mike (Williams) and Eugene (Omoruyi), really gave us a great spark and did exactly what they needed to do."

Williams was 5-of-10 shooting, and a career-best 10-of-12 at the charity stripe with four steals, to provide the essential spark to turn the game in the home squad's favor. It was the first contest of the season for the senior guard, who missed Friday's victory over CCNY with a right knee injury.

"I don't worry about starting," said Pikiell. "I know Mike doesn't either and that's the great part of this. Mike just wants to win, and we were able to win today because of the bench."

Omoruyi was 6-of-12 from the field. The sophomore grabbed seven rebounds and had two blocks in 23 minutes.

The Scarlet Knights made just one of their initial 12 field goal attempts to fall behind 10-2. Williams entered the game and deposited consecutive three-pointer to reduce the deficit to two points. A Williams' jumper at 3:26 provided the home squad its first lead, 24-23, before it entered the locker room at the midpoint with a 30-29 edge.

The Blue Devils did not relent in the second stanza, and held a 46-44 advantage with 10 minutes remaining. Rutgers, however, responded with 17-2 run to take a lead it would not relinquish.

The Scarlet Knights shot just 35.4 percent (23-of-65), but were a solid 77.8 percent (21-of-27) at the charity stripe, while out-rebounding the Blue Devils by a 42-34 margin.

RU, in its third game over five days to open the season, hosts Cleveland State on Tuesday in a 7 p.m. tip-off. The game will be televised live nationally on BTN, with Jason Horowitz and Bob Wenzel calling the action.

"We're always worried about prep time, you don't have a lot," said Pikiell. "So you've got to move on from this quickly. Every game's a different challenge, everybody's different. Plus you don't know a lot about teams early in the year."

Single game tickets are available online or by calling the Rutgers Ticket Office at 1-866-445-GORU. Fans also have the opportunity flex ticket plans, which enable them to select any four games from the home schedule to create their own package. Flex ticket plans are $140 for 200 level center tickets, $120 for 200 level wing tickets, and $60 for 300 level tickets.

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Postgame Notes

• Rutgers improves to 10-0 in non-conference home games under Steve Pikiell.
• Eugene Omoruyi scored a career-high 13 points. The sophomore led the team in rebounding for the first time in his career.
• Mike Williams had his sixth career 20-point game and led the Scarlet Knights in scoring for the 21^st time. He also made a career-best 10 free throws.
• Deshawn Freeman reached double-figures with 11 points, the only player to do so in both of Rutgers' games on opening weekend. He has scored in double digits 26 times.
• The Scarlet Knights utilized a 17-2 run on the second half over a stretch of 4:09 to turn a 46-44 deficit into a 64-46 lead.
• Rutgers extended its all-time series lead against CCSU to 3-0. 

Postgame Quotes

Rutgers Head Coach Steve Pikiell

Opening statement: "We had another great crowd. Not the way I wanted to play today, but hopefully we'll learn a lot from this. We got one day prep for the next game. Our goal going into this was to be 2-0 and we are, but I got to give Central Connecticut credit. They made plays. Our defense is nowhere near where it needs to be. We'll continue to get better in those areas. These guys came, Mike (Williams) and Eugene (Omoruyi), really gave us a great spark and did exactly what they needed to do. Thank God he was back today, Mike. We made enough plays, we made free throws tonight that helped us win a basketball game and move on.

On Williams joining starting lineup: "Well, I don't really worry about starting Mike. He just keeps playing like this and I won't be able to take him off the court. Same thing- Eugene could start too, I think I have seven starters. Issa (Thiam) was good the other day, Mike stepped in today, a good sign. Eugene bounced back, he was just okay in that first game, and he bounced back and had a good game. So, I don't worry about starting. I know Mike doesn't either and that's the great part of this. Mike just wants to win, and we were able to win today because of the bench."

On whether when he got run over courtside was a turning point: "Well I took a charge, so that really should've been our ball…they decided to play for that stretch, that four minute stretch, and we kind of turned the game around. I just wish we could've ended it the right way too. Its valuable end-of-game situations where we need to be better. We have veteran guys, to wrap up the game the right way. We got some great film, and we'll attack that and hopefully be better next time we get in those situations.

On three games in five days: "We're always worried about prep time, you don't have a lot. So you got to move on from this quickly. Every game's a different challenge, everybody's different. Plus you don't know a lot about teams early in the year. They had two junior college players that were new to them, so you don't have a lot of film. They went small, and we went small. We had more traditional fives. Candido (Sa) came in and gave us some great minutes on the defensive end, and really helped us out with a couple big put-backs. Eugene was active as usual, and he can guard a lot of different people. So we got to get our coverages straightened out, and we'll do a better job with that moving forward, and now we have tape to teach our guys.

On the struggles from 3-point land: "As long as we're getting good looks, I don't worry. I think Geo (Baker) can shoot the ball, I know Mike can, and I know Issa can. I'm glad we made free throws tonight, we made big ones down the stretch, which helped us. As long as we're taking good shots. Tonight they took away "D", and D's been really good, so now he has to make those adjustments about how teams are going to play him. We just keep building on it, which is why these seasons are exciting. Every game is different, every game poses a different challenge to you. I like playing here at the RAC and thankfully we were home tonight. When our fans showed up again, which I appreciate, we're going to continue to get better. And hopefully Tuesday you're going to see a team that plays with a little bit more defensive composure.

Central Connecticut Assistant Coach Mike Witcoskie
 
On fast start: "I think it was a little of the adrenaline of playing against a Big Ten team. I think some guys were ready. We were beaten last year (at Rutgers), so we were ready to go and we were encouraged. We came together as a team and knew we could be in this game if we played the way we could play, which was good to see."
 
On Rutgers' run in the second half: "(Rutgers) has so many big bodies. We were in a little bit of foul trouble. I thought the foul trouble at the end of the first half affected us because we had to play small. They got the lead, but it is one big body after another. They are starting a 6-10 three-man. Next thing you know you box one out, but then one comes swooping in from someone else. The glass really hurt us."
 
On the difference in the game: "(Rutgers' frontcourt) and Mike Williams. Mike Williams is really, really good. I wish he would have played Friday and not today."
 
Takeaways on CCSU from the game: "We will be fine. If we continue to grow, there are things we need to improve on. We have to improve, we can't stay still. If we continue to improve by the time NEC play comes along, we'll be a very good team."