Feb. 28, 2017
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Box Score
Photo Gallery
Postgame Press Conference
PISCATAWAY, N.J. - Rutgers (13-17, 2-15) played a strong opening half, but could not sustain the effort for a full 40 minutes in a 79-59 loss to Maryland (23-7, 11-6) Tuesday evening at the RAC. Junior guard Mike Williams registered team-highs of 14 points and six rebounds to pace three Scarlet Knights in double figures.
"I thought Maryland played hungry," said Rutgers head coach Steve Pikiell. "We played one half the way I wanted. Unfortunately, when you play a top-25 caliber team with elite guards, you have to play better than that."
RU center C.J. Gettys shot 6-of-8 to score 12 points, while forward Deshawn Freeman added 11, helped by a 4-of-4 performance from the free throw line.
The Terrapins shot 54.4 percent (31-of-57) and edged RU on the glass, 32-31, to claim the victory. Rutgers made 41.4 percent (24-of-58) of its field goal attempts.
The Scarlet Knights made four of their initial seven shots to jump-out to an 8-5 lead. UM responded with a 9-0 run. A back-and-forth affair ensued. Rutgers reduced its deficit to two points on four occasions before entering the locker room at the midpoint trailing 32-28.
The opening 20 minutes featured five lead changes and saw Freeman and Gettys post 11 and 10 points, respectively.
A Gettys jumper provided the initial points after the break, but Maryland responded with a 10-point surge and never looked back. Rutgers answered with a four point burst to get within eight (42-34) with 16 minutes to play. The Terrapins proceeded to score seven consecutive points and their advantage remained in double digits thereafter.
"We don't have a margin for error," said Pikiell. "Every play is important to us. Every three, every call, everything. You have to give Maryland credit. They're a good team."
Rutgers concludes the regular season at home on Saturday with a 12 noon tip-off against Illinois on ESPNU. It will be Senior Day at the RAC, highlighted by a pre-game ceremony to recognize Gettys, Khalil Batie and the senior managers.
Postgame Notes
Rutgers limited Maryland's leading scorer, Melo Trimple (17.1 points per game), to 11 points on 5-of-12 shooting.
Deshawn Freeman reached double-figures in scoring for the 16th time this season and 21st time in his career.
CJ Gettys reached double-figures in scoring for the 13th time this season and 20th time in his career.
Mike Williams reached double-figures in scoring for the 16th time this season and 41st time in his career.
Williams led the team with six rebounds, pacing the squad on the boards for the fifth time this season.
The Terps now lead the all-time series 8-3.
Postgame Quotes
Rutgers Head Coach Steve Pikiell
Opening Statement: "(There was) another good crowd tonight. I'd like to thank the fans for coming out. We didn't play the way I wanted us to play, the way we had practiced leading up. I thought Maryland played hungry. We played one half the way I wanted to play. Unfortunately, when you play a top-25 caliber team with elite guards, you have to play better than that. I'm very disappointed with how we played, especially in the second half."
On breakdowns defensively: "I thought we tried everything against them. They just kept getting into the lane. We didn't do a great job with penetration or screen coverage. We tell these guys, when you play elite guards, you have to play elite defense. We didn't have that. They got us on the backboards. They caused problems. Then we started scrambling a bit trying to get back in the game. They are not a team that you want to get behind on. Their guards are too good. They aren't going to turn the ball over. We had 20 minutes in the first half that was how I wanted to play. They started the second half with a barrage of threes and we never got back into it. We're a tough team. We take pride in bouncing back and I didn't feel that tonight."
On mental wear-down: "I didn't like our energy in the second half. We had good practices, we came out with some good energy to start the game. I knew that we were playing an elite team that was hungry and desperate for this game. We had to match that for 40 minutes and we weren't able to do that. We don't have a margin for error. Every play is important to us. Every three, every call, everything. You have to give Maryland credit. They're a good team. They are well coached and they were the hungrier team today."
Maryland Head Coach Mark Turgeon
Opening Statement: "(I'm) obviously really proud of my team. Rutgers is a team that's played everyone tough for the most part in this building. A lot of games have come down to the last few possessions. I thought we were good the whole game. The first half I thought we turned it over a bit too much and we didn't get too many rebounds. But the second half was as good as we've been in a while and we we're a lot more physical on defense and with our rebounding. We rebounded great and we really executed and shared the ball. Almost every possession in the second half we got what we wanted, got a good look and executed. I'm just really proud of my team. I can talk about this guy or that guy, but I thought all 10 guys really played well. We needed it and I'm proud of my team."
On the play of Damonte Dodd: "I thought Damonte's energy really got us going and then on the defensive end with the rebounding, he ran the floor hard and opened things up. Whenever you hit back-to-back three's, it makes everything look a lot better. I thought Damonte changed the game with his activity level in the second half and with his rebounding."
On the play of his defense as a whole: "We were just good. We were dialed-in and our rotations defensively were better. We haven't really guarded great in the past couple of games and we guarded well tonight. Our rotations were good and we guarded the ball well."
On what Trimble's play at the end of the first half provided his team: "That was big because I thought we should have been up by more than four at half, to be honest with you. We weren't and I was disappointed. We got the ball to start the second half. We just spoke about being mentally tougher and when things aren't going well just to keep fighting. We did that all night. Melo was terrific. He only had 11 points but I thought he was dominating out there. He had seven assists and did a pretty good job defensively and boxing out tonight."
On how his team's confidence improved: "I think we were confident in the first half, but Rutgers is pretty good. I know they're not getting the wins, but they're a good team and they're well coached and play hard. It was a great crowd tonight. But I think when you make shots and things go well, you can take a deep breath. The thing is, we didn't let up. We just kept playing really until a minute thirty left in the second half. We didn't guard well in those final three possessions, but our guys stayed dialed into the game plan and executed."
