PISCATAWAY, N.J.  – Trailing by one point with possession and the shot clock turned off, Rutgers (10-5) had the opportunity for victory, but was unable to convert in a 60-58 loss to Hartford (7-7) Thursday evening at the RAC. The Scarlet Knights attempted 12 more field goals than the visitors, but struggled at the charity stripe to suffer back-to-back non-conference losses for the first time under head coach Steve Pikiell.
 
"We haven't been playing Rutgers basketball," said Pikiell. "We have to get back on track. This is part of the process. I've been through this many times. You get some ups and some downs. We played hard, but we have to make some timely baskets. We have to make some free throws."
 
Rutgers entered the contest leading the nation in rebounding, but was out-done by a 39-34 margin on the glass.
 
"I have to watch the tape to see what's going on, because I think we're a great rebounding team," said Pikiell. "We just didn't seem to get those timely rebounds. I've been here before. I'm excited about my team and it's potential. Sometimes you have to go through some rough patches to enjoy some of the good things."
 
Three players scored in double digits for Rutgers. Corey Sanders posted 17 points off the bench, while Mike Williams added 13 in a reserve role and Deshawn Freeman scored 10. The output from Sanders and Williams enabled a 33-4 advantage in bench points for the home squad.
 
Hartford jumped-out to a 16-8 lead, but the Scarlet Knights answered with an 8-0 burst to knot the score. Rutgers proceeded to build a seven point (27-20) advantage, its largest of the game, before entering the locker room at the midpoint with a 29-27 edge.
 
The Hawks were efficient after the break and built a pair of seven point leads, the last coming with just over seven minutes on the clock. Williams responded to the challenge. He scored 10 of the home squad's next 12 points and provided RU a 55-53 lead with 2:39 remaining.
 
Hartford proceeded to go on a six-point run to regain an advantage it would not again relinquish. The Scarlet Knights attempted two field goals in the final two minutes, both of which failed to tweak the twine.
 
Rutgers committed a season-low six turnovers, while forcing 17 miscues by the visitors. The home squad was unable to capitalize on the disparity, however, benefitting just three points (10-7) in points-off-turnovers.
 
The Scarlet Knights return to the hardwood on Wednesday at No. 14/13 Purdue to continue Big Ten play. The game will tip-off at 7 p.m. ET on BTN. The Boilermakers are the third ranked foe that the Scarlet Knights will meet in as many league games, after contests at No. 12/12 Minnesota (Dec. 3) and versus No. 3/3 Michigan State (Dec. 5). It marks the third time that RU will open conference play against three ranked opponents, after also completing the trifecta in 2008-09 and 2001-02 as a Big East member.
 
Single game tickets for Rutgers men's basketball home games are available online or by calling the Rutgers Ticket Office at 1-866-445-GORU. Fans also have the opportunity to purchase flex ticket plans, which enable consumers to select any four games from the home schedule to create their own package.
 
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Post-Game Notes

• The defeat marked the first time that Rutgers has lost back-to-back non-conference games under Steve Pikiell.
• Rutgers is now 18-3 in non-conference home games under Pikiell.
• The Scarlet Knights committed a season-low six turnovers, while forcing 17 miscues by Hartford.
• Corey Sanders (17 points) scored in double-digits for the 11^th time this season and the 55^th time in his career. It was his fourth time this season and 29^th time overall pacing RU in scoring. Sanders had three steals, his fifth time this season with at least three steals.
• Mike Williams (13 points) scored in double-digits for the sixth time this season and 47^th time in his career. He also had season-highs with seven rebounds and three, three-pointers.
• Deshawn Freeman (10 points) scored in double-digits for the team-high 13^th time this season and 37^th time in his career. He also had a season-high four steals.
• Souf Mensah made his first career start.
• Rutgers now leads the all-time series with Hartford 2-1. Pikiell is 17-9 all-time as a head coach against the Hawks.

Post-Game Quotes
Rutgers Head Coach Steve Pikiell
Opening Statement: "Obviously, we don't like this result at all. I have to do a great job with this group and we're in a tough spot right now with the last two games. We haven't been playing Rutgers basketball. We have to get back on track. This is part of the process. I've been through this many times. You get some ups and some downs. We played hard but we have to make some timely baskets, we have to make some free throws. The rebounding is a little frustrating to me because I think we're a great rebounding team, but we've been out rebounded in the last two games."

On Corey Sanders coming off the bench: "He missed his flight (back to Rutgers after the team's break). So he missed practice the other day. He came back, he responded. It happens, travelling the day after Christmas is tough. He didn't start as a result. He likes to start. But it happens, that's a busy travel day. That wasn't the reason why we lost the game today. He apologized to the team and we move forward."

On the result: "I'm surprised by this because I thought we had two great practices this week. I have to watch the tape to see what's going on because I think we're a great rebounding team, but we just didn't seem to get those timely rebounds. I've been here before. I'm excited about my team and it's potential. Sometimes you have to go through some rough patches to enjoy some of the good things."

On Hartford: "Last year against them it came down to that last possession too. They have good players and they are well coached. They were here for three days working out in our gym, so they were ready for the game. I thought we were ready too. We had our two best practices of the season, so I thought we were in a good place heading into the game. But you have to score, when you can't score, it puts a lot of pressure on your defense. It's tough when you are building, but this is part of the process. We have to get plugging and keep getting better. I loved their effort. We have to stay the course."

On his thoughts at the end of non-conference play: "Tonight doesn't define us. I think we're going to be very good. There's a lot of basketball left. We have to make sure we do a good job of turning our flaws into strengths. Better days are ahead."

Rutgers Senior Guard Mike Williams

On the emotions of the last three games: "It's a humbling experience. You can be on the top of the world one day, and the next you can be at the bottom of the pedestal. This was an eye opener for us, especially the younger guys. But this is college basketball. Anything can happen on any given day. We'll get back to the drawing board tomorrow and get ready for Purdue."

On the game: "They made shots. There's a lot more basketball to be play. These two loses don't define us."

Hartford Head Coach John Gallagher

Opening Statement: "It all started with J.R. Lynch, our point guard and a North Jersey kid, along with Jason Dunne. Our backcourt just settled us in. We played hard and tough. We can't win that game without our post. We won the glass by plus-eight. If you know Steve Pikiell and Jay Young the way I do, they are a team that is built upon rebounding. For us to come in and outrebound them by eight; it's a credit to our players. I have such respect for Rutgers basketball. They are in such good hands with Steve Pikiell. This is going to happen during the process, but they have champion coaches."

On using this win heading into conference play: "We're rolling pretty well right now. The reality is we have to go to the No. 1 team in our league next Wednesday in Albany. We've won four of five and we're starting to establish a great identity. We're embracing the defense and we're on the right track."

On playing in the RAC in a tight game: "Our guys showed us what senior leadership is tonight. It was tremendous. John Carroll and Hassan Attia made some big baskets in big moments against their inside defense, and I think that rattled them a little bit. When we can go into those physical guys and make some layups, it's big.

What made the difference: "The big difference was the mentality. We went down in the first half and responded well. We showed resiliency and never panicked. That was the key."