PISCATAWAY – Deshawn Freeman had a double-double and Shaquille Doorson came off the bench to provide career-highs in both points (8) and rebounds (9) to help Rutgers (6-0) to a 61-47 victory over East Carolina (2-3) Friday afternoon at the RAC. The Scarlet Knights grabbed 19 offensive rebounds to improve to 14-0 under Head Coach Steve Pikiell in non-conference home games.

"Shaq did an unbelievable job and Deshawn got us off to a good start," said Pikiell. "But, again, our defense kind of carried us. We had a lot of obstacles today with Corey and a lot of guys in foul trouble against a talented ECU team with terrific guards. I thought we did a great job. Their two leading scorers average thirty-two points a game, and we held them to eight."

Freeman, who had 15 points and 11 rebounds to earn his 11th career double-double, was the only Scarlet Knight in double figures. The last time Rutgers won by double-digits while having only one player score in double-figures was a 69-55 victory over Robert Morris on Nov. 21, 2008.

Issa Thiam was 3-of-4 from behind the arc to contribute nine points, while Mike Williams and Eugene Omoruyi added seven and six, respectively.

East Carolina jumped-out to a 12-5 lead, as RU made two of its initial nine shots. The Scarlet Knights responded with a 14-1 run and held the advantage for the remainder. The home squad entered the locker room at the midpoint with a 32-21 lead.

After the break, Rutgers built its advantage to as much as 24 points en route to securing the 14-point victory.

"We play in the best league in the country," said Pikiell. "So, we've got to continue to get better. I like some things that we do and we've had short prep, which I don't like. So, you've got to figure out a lot of stuff in a hurry. We've got another couple games coming up here with not a lot of prep. I like the fact that they're able to digest the game plan and go on the court and execute. We've gotten a lot out of that in a short period of time." 

The Scarlet Knights return to the hardwood on Tuesday evening to welcome Florida State to the RAC for the Big Ten-ACC Challenge. The contest will tip-off at 7 p.m. and will be televised on ESPNU. It will mark the second meeting between the schools, with the Seminoles winning the first match-up, 87-77, on Dec. 22, 1967.

"We're playing a really talented team that has huge players," said Pikiell. "Obviously, the guy is a terrific coach and I'm excited to get a home game here in that challenge. Our guys will be ready for it."

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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Rutgers Postgame Notes

• Rutgers is 14-0 under Head Coach Steve Pikiell in non-conference home games and has started the season 6-0 for the second consecutive season under his leadership.
• Deshawn Freeman had his first double-double of the season and team-leading 11th of his career (15 points, 11 rebounds). He led the team in scoring for the 9th time in his career (first this season) and scored in double-digits for the 29th time.
• Freeman paced the team in rebounding for the 25th time in his career.
• Rutgers won by 14 points with just one player reaching double-figures in points. The last time Rutgers won by double-digits while having only one player score in double-figures was in a 69-55 win over Robert Morris on Nov. 11, 2008. Mike Rosario had 27 points. Anthony Farmer was the next-leading scorer with eight. 
• Shaquille Doorson had career-highs in both points (8) and rebounds (9).
• Issa Thiam tied his career-high in 3-pointers (3) and steals (3).
• Rutgers held an opponent under 55 points for the fifth time in six games.
• The victory evens the all-time series between Rutgers and East Carolina at 1-1.

Postgame Quotes

Rutgers Head Coach Steve Pikiell

Opening Statement: "Thank you guys again for coming. I know right after Thanksgiving is a tough time. I loved the crowd tonight. Forty-three hundred. Our fans were awesome and with our students on a little bit of a break too. I'm thankful for them and it's nice to have another new guy up here at the podium. Shaq did an unbelievable job, Deshawn (Freeman) got us off to a good start. But, again, our defense kind of carried us. Had a lot of obstacles today; Corey in foul trouble, a lot of guys in foul trouble against a talented ECU team with terrific guards. I thought we did a great job. Their two leading scorers average thirty-two points a game, we held them to eight. Good win and a well-deserved day off for the guys tomorrow."

On Shaq's Journey: "He's been getting better and better in practice. He's had quite the journey. He was out for six months, it seemed like two years. But he's getting in that game condition and shape. I'm really proud. He's plugged away. Yesterday we shot a bunch of free throws too before practice. He's getting better, rounded into shape and we need him. He can bring a dimension that we desperately need and didn't have. So, really proud that he's stayed the course and he keeps getting better."

On Deshawn's Defense Against ECU's Big Men: "Well, I mean, they have some big guys too. Everyone is a little bit different. I thought all of our bigs did a real good job. There's a ton of screen coverages too. So, our bigs are involved in all of that. They're a big reason we shut those guards down too. I liked our energy. I love that one play where, I don't know who blocked the shot, it seemed like three of our guys hustled back down the other end of the floor. I don't know if that was you, was that you Deshawn? We'll give it to you. Seeing three guys block that shot in transition when they were going up for a layup. So, when we play with that kind of energy its contagious. De got us started today the right way and then Eugene always comes in, and then Shaq gave us a big lift. So, you never know whose day it's going to be. Obviously, we didn't shoot the ball well. I thought we had another game with good looks. But, when you defend the way we defended it doesn't matter."

On Being Led By the Front Court: "Well, I think the front court has been, between Eugene, Deshawn and Candido giving us good minutes. Now, if we get Shaq into that rotation too, I think our front court is capable of doing a lot of things. We're figuring out playing guys together. I think in the early part of the season I'm like a little bit of a mad scientist. You've got to move the pieces around. You've got to see with the newcomers. Douc is really coming and getting better. Today was the first game he was in a little foul trouble. He's done a good job of staying out of that. So, we're figuring it out and the matchups are always important; who we're playing against and what their skillset is. We continue to do that but I like the pieces."

On the Team's Standing as the Schedule Toughens: "We play in the best league in the country. So, we've got to continue to get better. I like some things that we do and we've had short prep, which I don't like. So, you've got to figure out a lot of stuff in a hurry. We've got another couple games coming up here with not a lot of prep. I like the fact that they're able to digest the game plan and go on the court and execute. We've gotten a lot out of that in a short period of time. I think we've really grown in those areas. As we continue to move into Big Ten play, obviously it's the best league in the country. So, you've really got to be on the top of your game."

On His Approach of Addressing the Team of the Upgrade in Competition: "These guys know there's good teams everywhere. These guys watch TV all the time. That's why they came here to play in this league. No one doesn't know about Michigan State, nobody doesn't know about Michigan and the type of teams. But, we have veterans that played in this league. They know how good teams are and we have to be ready every night. Every team in this league is good. I think nine can go to the tournament."

On the Team Representing the League at Home Against FSU: "Huge challenge obviously. We're playing a really talented team that has huge players. Obviously, the guy is a terrific coach and I'm excited to get a home game here in that challenge. Our guys will be ready for it."

East Carolina Head Coach Jeff Lebo

On the quick start before running into a tough Rutgers defense: "The Rutgers defense is very good and very big. We had a stretch there where we were stuck on 13 points for what felt like the whole rest of the half after we were up maybe 13-7. Offensively, we turned the ball over too much. Defensively, we were good enough. Sixty-one points on the road and holding them to 33 percent, we knew they would miss a lot of shots, and we knew we were going to have a tough time battling them for rebounds. They got a lot of second shots. Offensively, in the first half we were down 11 and had our two leading scorers with goose eggs. They are the guys that need to be good every night."

On positive takeaways: "On the positive side, I thought Jabari Craig was the best I've seen him play. Hopefully that gives him some more confidence going forward. I thought he was terrific early scoring and catching the ball, keeping it simple, rebounding the ball. I thought we did a great job on their two guards. [Geo] Baker didn't hurt us coming off a game where he had 29 points. He was 1-of-8 and we did a good job there."

On the experience for a young team in a Big Ten building: "The younger guys learned a little bit about what it's like on the road. Rutgers is a gigantic team with a small forward at 6-foot-10. They throw a lot of bodies inside. They are outstanding defensively and rebounding. We held them to where we wanted them offensively, and that gives you a shot to win. But we had 19 turnovers, if we turn it over 10 times maybe it's a different story."

On Rutgers as an opponent: "Rutgers is tough, they are physical, and they're going to be a tough team. They'll have to find some scoring from the perimeter, but they did the two things they needed to do to win very well, and that's defend and rebound the basketball."

On Dimitri Spasojevic: "Dimiti rebounded the ball and that was good to see. He's a freshman in a physical game and he didn't turn the ball over. I always like to see that from the big guys."

On what ECU learned from the setback: "We have a lot of areas where we're deficient in, especially on the offensive side of the ball. We have to make simple basketball plays, and we can't make the easy mistakes at this pace. We shot poorly from the foul line now two games in a row and it ended up costing us a 10-point swing with how often we put them on the line."