PISCATAWAY – Freshman Geo Baker shot 10-of-14, including 7-of-10 from behind the arc, to boost Rutgers (5-0) to an 83-54 win over Bryant (0-4) Tuesday evening at the RAC. The Scarlet Knights issued 16 blocks to improve to 13-0 under Head Coach Steve Pikiell in non-conference home games.

"Offensively they're starting to really learn how to play together," said Pikiell. "I like this team a lot. I'm thankful for this team. I think we've got some pieces, we've got to keep getting better."

Baker's seven three-pointers were the most for an RU rookie since Todd Billet made eight three pointers versus Notre Dame on Jan. 18. 2000. Baker's 29 points signaled the most for a Rutgers freshman in a regulation contest since Billet scored 31 in that same contest, a 76-51 victory.

"Geo got on a roll today," said Pikiell. He can shoot the ball…We haven't had a stretch where we've been shooting the ball like we're capable of. But, that happens too during the course of the year. I want them to keep taking good shots, to be game-ready, shot-ready, and we'll have nights like this."

Baker was joined in double digits by Corey Sanders (18) and Mike Williams (10). Sanders was 8-of-14 from the field, while Williams deposited 5-of-10 shots off the bench.

Freshman Mamadou Doucore also had a solid evening on the hardwood, shooting 4-of-7 to score eight points with four blocks and six rebounds in 22 minutes.

The Scarlet Knights led 47-34 at the break and maintained the momentum to build their advantage in the second half. Bryant was held to just eight field goals over the final 20 minutes, as Rutgers limited the visitors to 31.7 percent (19-of-60) shooting overall.

"Yesterday we had a great practice," said Pikiell. "We were locked in, we were locked into the scouting report, and took away some of their things. These guys did a real good job of being locked-in and focused. So, I'm very excited."

The Scarlet Knights return to the hardwood on Friday to host The American Conference-member East Carolina in a 1 p.m. matinee. It will be "Black Friday Knight" at the RAC, with all fans encouraged to wear black to the game. There will be a Black Friday shopping package raffle for Rutgers students and a "Black Friday On-Court Challenge" at halftime. The game will be streamed live via the web on BTN Plus.

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 is now 13-0 in non-conference home games under head coach Steve Pikiell.
• The 16 blocked shots was Rutgers most in a game since compiling 18 versus St. Peters on Dec. 22, 2009
• Geo Baker shot 10-of-14 to score 29 points, the most for a Rutgers freshman since Corey Sanders had 39 points in a 3OT game versus Illinois on Feb. 3, 2015. It was the most for an RU rookie in a regulation game since Todd Billet had 31 points versus Notre Dame on Jan. 18. 2000.
• Baker's seven three-pointers were the most for an RU freshman since Todd Billet made eight three pointers versus Notre Dame on Jan. 18. 2000.
• Baker's seven 3-pointers ties for the 13^th most in a NCAA D-I game this season.
• Corey Sanders had his 48th career double digit scoring game. He also had five assists, the 20^th time he contributed five or more helpers in a contest.
• Sanders tied his career-high with three steals
• Shaquille Doorson tied his career-high with three blocks. 
• Eugene Omoruyi set a career-high with three blocks. 
• Mike Williams had his 43^rd career double digit scoring game.
• Rutgers is 2-0 all-time against Bryant
• The victory provided head coach Steve Pikiell a 50^th birthday gift. Pikiell was born in Bristol, Conn., and raised in Storrs as one of nine children.

 
Postgame Quotes

Rutgers Head Coach Steve Pikiell

Opening Statement: "I want to thank the crowd. They were live today, I like that. I appreciate you guys coming too. Hope you have a good Thanksgiving. I was really excited today, came back, one-day prep, Corey played terrific defensively. Offensively they're starting to really learn how to play together. I like this team a lot, I'm thankful for this team. I think we've got some pieces, we've got to keep getting better. It was a dangerous team because they've got a couple of guys who can really score. You see how hard they play. I just thought we put the game away when we needed to and these guys really did a good job. Yesterday we had a great practice. We were locked in, we were locked into the scouting report and took away some of their things. These guys did a real good job of being locked-in and focused. So, I'm very excited."

On his "Milestone" birthday number: "It's 5 and 0, that's what we are. That's the most important thing, you know. It's about these guys wanting to be 5 and 0. I'm just excited about the way we bounced back. I think we played great the other day. We figured out a way to win. Today, we had a little more energy. Starting to figure some things out with one day prep. They're a very different team, playing different zones and what have you. We identified them and attacked them the right way. Got some film now against a team that changes up a lot of defenses."

On Corey's response to his challenge: "Corey has been awesome. I want him to overachieve. Today he locked-in; you saw how good he was. But, I want all my guys too. He's improved a tremendous amount. He really has. You saw some of that today. He ran our team. He called out the right plays at the right time. He communicated but defensively in a mode because their two guards get after it. Offensively, they're talented guards. So, just real pleased. He had a great day and I expect him to have a great one tomorrow and as we continue this journey this year."

On Corey changing the game's momentum: "He can change things. He made some game-changing plays. Also, he gets the crowd into the game too. He made some big plays for us during those spurts and he can do those things. He can rebound, he's really done a good job improving his rebounding ability. Shoots the ball better. I thought he took great shots today. Got to the lane, didn't settle, and was in attack-mode. Both these guards need to be in attack-mode because they both can score in a lot of ways."

On the bigger guys getting more minutes: "I will tell you, Shaq did a nice job. Sign of a good team, you know. He hasn't played a lot. Thought tonight was better matchups. He's been good in practice and he was good today. He gave us some good minutes. Douc is getting better and better too. Eugene always plays with that energy. So, front court was good. They had a ton of screen coverages so they had to be really locked in today."

On the defensive approach/getting 16 blocks: "I think we're capable of that when we're on top of our game. You saw that today with some really great effort blocks. We have some athletes that can cause some problems and I think our size helps too in a game like this."

On whether he's ever had a freshman score seven three-pointers in a game: "Bryan (Dougher) will know exactly the date of the game and how many. Geo got on a roll today. He can shoot the ball. They both are good shooters. They haven't had a stretch here where they've been shooting the ball like they're capable of. But, that happens too during the course of the year. I want them to keep taking good shots, to be game-ready, shot-ready, and they'll have nights like this because they can both shoot the ball."

On whether he feels a sense of relief after a shooting night like tonight: "I never worry about those things. I thought we were getting good shots in the last few games. We weren't making free throws, we weren't making open threes. So, you've got to keep defending. You've got to be tough. I think we did a good job on the backboards today. Some nights you're going to make shots and some nights you're going to struggle but you still have to find a way to win."

On whether he heard the crowd singing Happy Birthday: "I really didn't. Corey started it because he's got the best voice on the team. I was kind of locked in to what we were doing. So, no, but that was nice of them. I want to thank the fans for doing that. I really appreciate it. I appreciate being the coach here and I appreciate the fans here. I really do. So, that was nice of them. When you're as old as I am, you don't hear 'happy birthday' that much."

Bryant Head Coach Tim O'Shea
 
On effort: "I was disappointed honestly. I thought we turned the ball over too much. We had a couple good sequences, but we have work to do. But I thought Aram Martin, who just joined us recently, gave us a good look. I thought Brandon Carroll, who hasn't played a lot, athletically did some things well. And I thought Ike (Ndugba) played well, but I thought they did great job defensively on Adam Grant. Bash Townes is usually a guy that plays very, very well in the post for us, but he really struggled tonight."
 
On playing road games against high majors: "Everyone knows the deal with these games. Part of it is the revenue schools like us, Bryant, receives. It gives our guys some exposure at the highest level. There is exposure and a revenue piece for schools like us."
 
On challenges Rutgers presented: "I thought some of our mistakes were self-inflicted. But I also thought that defensively they did a good job being active with their hands, being active on Grant by blitzing him on ball screens. And Bosko (Kostur) is obviously one of our better players and unfortunately, I call that a self-inflicted mistake getting himself tossed on a flagrant one technical I believe it is called."