PISCATAWAY – Geo Baker scored 19 points and dished-out 11 assists to propel Rutgers (8-3) in a convincing 92-54 victory over Fairleigh Dickinson (3-6) Saturday night at the RAC. RU's three-guard trio of Baker (19), Corey Sanders (19) and Mike Williams (17) combined to score 55 points on 20-of-32 shooting, as the Scarlet Knights improved to 16-1 in non-conference homes games under Steve Pikiell.

"I think we had a good bounce back game," said Pikiell. "We didn't play the way I liked to play the other day. I think we got back to Rutgers basketball."

Baker shot 7-of-11 en route to his first career double-double, which was comprised of the most assist by an RU player in a regulation game since Marquis Webb also had 11 versus Syracuse on Jan. 24, 2005.

"For a young kid, he (Baker) has great floor vision and poise," said FDU head coach Greg Herenda. "He has a great feel for the game, and the ability to score. Some players have one or the other. He's got a really good feel for the game and can score."

Rutgers, the nation's top-offensive rebounding team, grabbed 14 offensive boards while establishing a 49-30 overall advantage on the glass. As a result, the home squad out-scored FDU 42-24 in the paint.

Trailing 6-3, the Scarlet Knights had a 16-3 burst to gain a double-digit advantage and never looked back. RU built its lead to as much as 28 points on multiple occasions and entered the locker room at the midpoint ahead by that same discrepancy, 50-22.

Although it was cold outside, Rutgers' hot shooting inside continually built its advantage over the final 20 minutes. The home squad's lead grew to as much as 42, before the final buzzer sounded on the 38-point victory.

The Scarlet Knights shot 53.2 percent (33-of-62), while limiting FDU to a 32.2 percent (19-of-59) performance from the field. RU's effort was helped by a season-high 18 assists, its most since dishing-out 24 against CCSU on Dec. 6, 2016.

"We were really sharing the game," said Pikiell. "We were locked-in to rebounding. We wanted to contest every three because they're a very good three-point shooting team. I thought we had good energy tonight and our guys earned a well-deserved day off tomorrow."

Rutgers returns to the hardwood Tuesday evening to host Fordham in a 7 p.m. tip-off at the RAC. The contest will be televised live on ESPNU.

Single game men's basketball tickets 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 or a "Pikiell's Presents" package. Flex ticket plans enable fans to select any four games from the home schedule to create their own package. "Pikiell's Presents" includes two section 110 tickets to the games versus Stony Brook (Dec. 22) and Hartford (Dec. 28), along with two food vouchers per game and ugly holiday sweater t-shirts.

Follow Rutgers men's basketball on Facebook (www.facebook.com/RutgersMBB), Twitter (www.twitter.com/RutgersMBB) and Instagram (www.instagram.com/RutgersMBB) for additional news and updates.

Post-Game Notes

• Rutgers improves to 16-1 in non-conference homes games under Steve Pikiell.
• Geo Baker earned his first career double-double with 19 points and 11 assists. The 11 helpers are the most assists by a Rutgers player – and the first point-assist double-double – since Corey Sanders scored 39 with 12 assists in a 3OT contest against Illinois on Feb. 3, 2016. They are the most assists for a Rutgers player in a regulation game since Marquis Webb also had 11 versus Syracuse on Jan. 24, 2005.
• Rutgers' 18 assists are a season high and the most in a game since recording 24 against Central Connecticut State on Dec. 6, 2016.
• Sanders scored in double-digits for the eighth time this season and the 52nd time in his career.
• Mike Williams scored in double figures for the 44^th career time.
• Rutgers three guard trio of Baker (19), Sanders (19) and Williams (17) combined to score 55 points on 20-of-32 shooting.
• Issa Thiam led the Scarlet Knights in rebounding with nine, the second time this season he paced the team on the boards.
• Rutgers grabbed 14 offensive rebounds while beating out FDU 49-30 on the glass, as the Scarlet Knights continue to lead the nation in offensive rebounds per game. The +19 rebounding margin was the second highest of the season.
• With 19 points, Sanders is now three points away from becoming the 42nd player in Rutgers men's basketball history to join the 1,000-Point Club. Williams has 979 career points.
• Rutgers' .412 mark (7-of-17) from beyond the arc is a season-high, and its best three-point percentage since shooting .474 in the 2017 Big Ten Tournament against Northwestern.
• The Scarlet Knights are shooting .556 as a team over the last two contests.
• Freshman Luke Nathan notched a career-high five rebounds in two minutes, and sophomore Joey Downes grabbed his first career rebound in two minutes of action.
• Tonight's game was the fourth of five games Rutgers will play in a 10-day span. It was also the second of five straight against metro opponents.
• Rutgers now leads the all-time series against FDU 13-2.

Post-Game Quotes

Rutgers Head Coach Steve Pikiell

Opening Statement: "Thank you guys for weathering the storm. Very nice of you to come, and the students to come out. I'm very thankful to our season ticket holders, community. Today was one of those weather days but we were ready to play. I think we had a good bounce back game. We didn't play the way I liked to play the other day. I think we got back to Rutgers basketball. Greg Herenda does a great job at FDU, he really does. Heck of a coach. They got a really good basketball team, I just think we had one of those nights where everything was going in. We were really sharing the game. We were locked-in to rebounding. We wanted to contest every three because they're a very good three-point shooting team. I thought we had good energy today and our guys earned a well-deserved day off tomorrow."

On what he attributes to Corey and Geo's chemistry on the court: "Both of them have really figured it out. They're keeping their game simple. I think they're playing to their strengths. They're doing a real good job. I can move them both around and I think we're getting more comfortable with both of them playing on the ball and off the ball. They do a good job together and I look forward to that continuing. I thought all our guards tonight, I thought Issa was terrific too, I thought Mike was locked in. He was getting to the free throw line too. I think all of them are starting to gel a bit together which is a good sign for us moving forward."

On whether he felt the team competed harder for rebounds tonight: "Yes. We don't get out-rebounded here very often and the other night was really, I hope, just a blip on the radar screen. Tonight, we were back to rebounding. I thought we scored the ball, I thought we made shots. I thought guys took shots they could make and we got some easy baskets because of our defense. So, tip of the hat. They shared the ball, guys look for each other up ahead. There were some good signs tonight but we've got to get ready for Tuesday. That's a different challenge."

On Geo's showing as a distributor: "You know, I was real proud of him because the other night he had 6 turnovers; uncharacteristic of his play. To go 11 and 1, I'm more excited about the 1 turnover. He did a good job with the floor game. He threw some terrific passes; he's a really good passer. So, he brought a dimension to us that we didn't have last year, off the ball. His development has been great. I think he had a great day of prep and I think he was locked in."

On the importance of keeping up the level of guard play: "It's crucial. It makes coaches happy, you know. If you throw in Issa's 9 rebounds and 11 points, our back court was really good tonight. Been waiting for a game like this. Corey has had a great night, Mike has had a great night, Geo has had a great night, Issa has had a couple of them too. Tonight, we had a couple guys play well at the same time and we know that bodes well. Anytime the ball is going in like that and sharing the game, it's a good thing. But, they rebounded too. Our guards rebounded, if you look at their numbers and that's something we didn't do a great job of the other night."

On the importance of Mike Williams hitting his shots: "I think he, Geo, and Issa, jumpers going in makes it a little bit easier. As you know, it spaces the floor more for everybody else. I think Mike has done a really good job. I've challenged him the last 3 or 4 to rebound. Because he's rebounding he's getting back to the foul line too and doing some nice stuff around the basket. So, tip of the hat to Mike. Mike is one of those guys who you have a conversation with and he tries to do what you ask."

On how much he's keeping an eye on the number of minutes with the packed schedule: "You're always worried about that because we've jammed a lot of games here. You're always concerned and, like I said, we kind of got through a tough period here. Plus, we've got finals, it's the last week of school too. So, we've got some academic hurdles too that we have to go through. So, you're always kind of eyeing it but they've got to get through some tough times now. This is the grind of the season."

On whether he adjusts practice with the packed schedule: "Yes. You have to be real smart. Yes, yes. We do a really good job. Dave VanDyke is our strength and conditioning guy. He does a really good job keeping track of the hours and the stress on their bodies. So, we had a light day yesterday and I think it helped us a lot today."

Fairleigh Dickinson Head Coach Greg Herenda

On challenges facing Rutgers: "They just keep getting better. My first Division I win was in this gym. Steve (Pikiell) is putting together a lot of good parts and they are playing well together. They are big and their guards were great tonight. They presented a number of problems. But that wasn't our team, that wasn't who we are. All the credit goes to Steve and his kids. They are playing hard. As a New Jersey state resident, other than tonight, I am rooting for them big time."

On Geo Baker: "For a young kid, he has great floor vision and poise. He has a great feel for the game, and the ability to score. Some players have one or the other, he's got a really good feel for the game and can score. The players around him know where he is and he knows where they are. It is a great combination. As a freshman, he's playing with a nice cast and extreme confidence. He's a good player with a really bright future."

On lessons learned: "You have to show up and compete and fight and physically demand of yourself. We usually do that. And we've had a really difficult stretch here. We've been playing every game on the road against really good teams. That's the reality, everyone in our league is doing it. But right now, we are in the gauntlet. I think the week off hurt us, we were starting to get in a good rhythm. The Iona game we were real close to winning that on the road. We have to figure out the road, which historically we do. But tonight I think was a culmination of a lot of things, but ultimately it was Rutgers with a really strong performance. They were really, really good and you have to give those guys credit as well."